Mary Collier

Mary Smedley Collier spent a lifetime being a wife and mother — and sold more than a few cars — before she found time to tackle a college education. She was 55 before she enrolled in Valencia College in Orlando and in 1982 was the school's first distinguished graduate. Then she graduated from the University of Central Florida. But it is what she has done in the years since she graduated that has left its mark on Valencia through her leadership and contributions to the Valencia Foundation. Collier, 86, died Monday of cancer. "She was extremely into education," said her daughter, Lynn Collier Bishop of Longwood. Both Collier and her late husband, David F. Collier, established scholarships at Valencia that helped students there continue their educations at schools such as UCF, the University if Florida and Florida State University, said Valencia president Dr. Sanford C. Shugart. He called her generosity "essential to the students of Valencia." With more than 25 years, she was the longest-serving member of the Valencia Foundation board of directors and twice served as its president. Her compassion and desire to help others "is rare today," Shugart said. When her husband got into the used car business in Tacoma, Wash., Collier was by his side. They moved to Orlando in 1952 and soon after bought a 300-acre orange grove in the Brevard County community of Mims, Bishop said. While her husband worked for an Orlando car dealership, Collier raised their children and took care of the orange grove. She also worked for a while as a Realtor, Bishop said. They moved to Winter Park when he opened Collier Auto Sales in Orlando and she worked with him as he operated series of new-car dealerships such as DKW and Fiat before opening the first Jaguar dealership in Florida. When David Collier died about 14 years ago, she assumed the role of president of the dealership, working there with her children, Bishop said. She sold the dealership about 18 months ago, Bishop said. If there was anything Collier loved as much as Valencia College, it was the Orlando Magic, Bishop said. "She was a huge Magic fan," she said. "She never missed a game." Until recently, Collier was a season ticket holder, her daughter said. Collier also was involved in fund-raising for the American Heart Association. In 1997, she and her sister Joan Smedley, who died in 2007, were chosen by the organization as national spokeswomen for the "Each One, Reach One" campaign. For three years, the sisters went on local, regional and national television, and appeared in numerous print interviews talking about the risks of heart disease and stroke in women. Those who knew Bishop will remember her for her strength, compassion and love, Bishop said. Besides Bishop, Collier is survived by daughter Susan Sprouse of Orlando; sons Michael Collier or Daphne, Ala., and David S. Collier of Orlando; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Edgewood Children's Ranch. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Lake Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando, is in charge of arrangements.