James Howard Collier M.D.

1935 - 2021

JAMES HOWARD COLLIER M.D.

April 7, 1935 July 28, 2021

James Howard Collier M.D., age 86, passed away after a long and well lived life. He battled Parkison's the last 20 years and passed away on July 28, 2021, in Bakersfield, California.

Jim was born on April 7, 1935, to Jim and Stella Collier in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The family moved to Porterville, CA, during his childhood. He graduated from Porterville High School in 1953, then went on to study at UC Santa Barbara. During his studies at UCSB, he took a break and joined the U.S. Navy. After four years of service, he returned to school and decided to pursue a career in medicine. He continued his education at UC Berkeley and UCLA Medical School, and completed a residency in general medicine and later in his career, a residency in anesthesiology at USC.

During his Navy days, he met the love of his life Judith Ann Parnell in Porterville. They married in 1959 after he left the Navy. They have two children Julie and Jamie.

After completing his medical training, he opened a family practice for two years in Montana and then moved back to Porterville where he had a family medical practice for several years. In the late 1970's Jim decided to change the direction of his medical career and completed a residency in anesthesiology at USC/LA County hospital. In 1978, he moved his family to Bakersfield, CA, and worked as an anesthesiologist at Memorial Hospital.

Jim enjoyed many interests throughout his life, including fishing, bread making, listening to good music, and gardening, but most of all, he loved bird watching and being in the great outdoors. Jim's other great joy was his family. He always loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jim's love of family was easy to see whenever he had his children and grandchildren around him.

Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years Judy Collier, his daughter and son-in-law Julie and Ron Ramirez, son and daughter-in-law Jamie and Cindy Collier, 5 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Sherril Stubblefield and his brother Patrick Collier.

No services will be held, but a wake to celebrate his life will be held in September. Information will be published at a later date.

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