Barney E. McCollough

1930 - 2018

E. Barney McCollough, Physician Assistant, 87, died on April 4, 2018 at home surrounded by family and under the care of Hospice of Citrus & the Nature Coast.
Barney was born in Cleveland, Mississippi on Easter 1930, the son of Ottis Calloway and Lyda (Williams) McCollough. After an accident on his grandpa's farm he spent much of his youth under the care of the Shriner's in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Southside High School and Memphis State. During college he worked at several jobs at St Joseph Hospital but teaching the student nurses in surgery was his favorite. After graduation Barney studied Lab & X-ray Technology at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA. While working at Touro Infirmary he met and married Lucille Philips, they had four children. Barney spent many years working in small hospitals in Louisiana and north Florida.
In 1970 Barney was accepted in the first class of Physician Assistants at the University of Alabama Medical School in Birmingham, AL. He was honored to have Dr. Tinsley Harrison as a professor in Internal Medicine. Barney's first position after graduating was in Brooksville where he met Susan Anderson; they were married in 1975. Together with her 2 children they became a family of 6 until another son was born and there were 7 children.
Barney was interested in the Rural Health Clinic concept and moved to Arkansas and Iowa to work in the rural under-served areas. At retirement age he returned to Florida to play more golf and settled in Crystal River. Because he loved the practice of medicine Barney continued to work full time and later part time until
age 84. He was an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, a founding member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants and worked for better legislation while a member of the Iowa Physcian Assistant Society
As the grandson of a Methodist minister Barney grew up in the Christian faith and had a life long relationship with Jesus. In the small towns where he lived, the family would often fill a complete pew on Sunday. He served on many committees and used his woodworking skills to build many projects for the church. He built furniture, remodeled and built additions to homes to accommodate the family. Barney was also an avid gardener and spent many hours on the lawn and garden.
Golf was a family affair with Susan and most of the children and in-laws and even grandchildren playing. His most exciting shot was a hole-in-one at Seven Rivers Golf Club in a foursome with his brother-in-law Steve, son-in-law Eldon and grandson Ryan.
Barney was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Milynda, grandson Keith McCoy, son-in-law Kidd McCoy; brother Edward C., sisters Dorothy and Alice Grey; father-in-law Paul Anderson; brother-
in-law Larry Anderson.
Barney is survived by his wife Susan, sons: Michael and spouse Myong (Kim), their children Laura, Deborah, Joyce; David and spouse Sherry (Schneider), children Kristin, Dillon; Rick and spouse Melissa (MacCallum), children Ethan, Ella, Emmy; daughters: Verna Dean and son Garrett McCollough; Christine and spouse Eldon Zumbach, children Ryan, Brandon; Carolyn and spouse Bret Miell; mother-in-law Theresa Anderson, sister-in-law Nancy Nissen, brother-in-law Steve Anderson and spouse Kathy; sister-in-law Evelyn McCollough and many nieces & nephews.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, April 28 at 11:00 at the Crystal River United Methodist Church, 4801 N. Citrus Ave, Crystal River FL 34428. The family will receive guests starting one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the CRUMC Bethel Chapel Restoration Fund, 4801 N. Citrus Ave, Crystal River, FL 34428 or to Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast, PO Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34461.