Victoria Collier Obituary

Victoria Lynn Collier passed away on February 02, 2020 in Boulder, Colorado, succumbing to a 15-year battle with breast cancer. Vicki was born in Jackson, Michigan to Ray and Virgie Collier on September 11, 1948. She lived a life of intentionality and environmental justice.

Vicki found her way out west in the early '70s and landed in Albuquerque, NM for a handful of years but by the late 70's she had made Durango her home. She became a Diamond Belle Girl at the Strater Hotel and made many lasting friendships in the area. Despite leaving Durango in the early '90s, and with many moves that followed, she always called the San Juan Mountains her home.

After taking the multi-decade route, Vicki graduated with a degree in Journalism from Western Washington State University in Bellingham. She wanted to commit her writing to good causes and over the next couple of decades she did just that. She produced the materials and newsletters that helped the City of Tucson launch their new recycling program; joined The Sonora Institute in Tucson to create the written communications to support their work in stewardship and conservation efforts. After her move to the Front Range of Colorado, her talents in communication supported the efforts of the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies in Fort Collins, whose mission is conserving birds and their habitats through science, education and land stewardship. After retiring, Vicki worked with the Democratic Headquarters in Grand Junction in furtherance of her ideals, she volunteered her exceptional skills in communication.

Vicki loved the mountains and rivers of Colorado, but she kept her ties to Michigan and loved to visit there in the summer; and in later years, visit all of her snowbird Michigan friends that migrated down to Phoenix in the winter.

Vicki was the queen of recycling, trying to be conscious of her own carbon footprint, preaching about climate change and focusing us all on sustainability. She was a passionate environmentalist and cared deeply for this planet. She had many heroes and heroines, chief amongst which were Edward Abby and Rachel Maddow. She never met an environmentalist she didn't like.

Her ashes will be scattered at a later date in the place she felt most at home, the San Juan Mountains. Donations can be made in her name to The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, the Democratic Party, or any group offering a positive change for this planet.

Published by The Durango Herald on Feb. 12, 2020.
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We looked nothing alike except long dark hair in 1969 when we worked together, but people always mixed us up. We had a lot of fun with that. So many memories with her through the years...driving cross country together and playing scrabble in the car, skiing at Purgatory, playing games that made us laugh until we cried, Vicki coming to Michigan every year for her birthday week and staying with us until she could no longer make the drive. Many Christmases spent together in Vegas and Sun Lakes, Az. She was family and we could squabble like sisters, too. Hard to think of driving through Colorado on my way home this year and not spending time with her.

Karen Kishpaugh

Friend

February 12, 2020

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