Edwin Collette

EDWIN COLLETTE Edwin "Bud" Owen Collette, 73, passed away peacefully June 22, 2011 at his home in Carlsbad, N.M., while surrounded by loved ones. He has now been reunited with our Heavenly Father and Claree, the beautiful love of his life. Bud was born May 18, 1938, in Harlem, Mont., to David Edwin and Izetta Coila Owen Collette. Bud grew up in West Yellowstone, Mont., where he was active in sports. He played high school football, basketball and baseball. He also loved to snow ski and rodeo. He graduated from Ennis High School in Ennis, Mont. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served his country proud. While on leave, he met Claree Andra Williams and fell in love. They were married in the St. George, Utah temple for time and all eternity Dec. 29, 1959. They later moved to Las Vegas, where they raised their five children. Bud and Claree spent 49 years together in this life and are now reunited to spend eternity with each other. Bud was nicknamed for his loving and friendly nature. He never met a stranger and was a "Bud" to everyone he came across. He loved spending time with his family and his dog, Oscar. His steadfast devotion to his family and his Heavenly Father was an example to all who were lucky enough to know him. That example lives on in his children and grandchildren and will never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and admirers. Bud is survived by his two sons, Dirk (Tori) Collette of Vernal, Utah, and Brandon (Laura) Collette of Las Vegas; three daughters, Coila Boatman and Kiffanie (Andy) Twitchell, both of Carlsbad, and Cammy (Tim) Iwinski of Pahrump; brother, Ted (Helen) Collette of Kent, Wash.; sisters, Pat (Jay) Powell of Pocatello, Idaho, Barbara Powell of Ogden, Utah, Judy Hinds of Rockland, Calif., and Toni (Ed) Davis of Elkhorn, Wis.; 19 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Claree; and his parents, David and Izetta Collette. Funeral service will he at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Red Rock LDS Stake Center, 221 Lorenzi St., Las Vegas, NV 89107. A viewing will be held later that day at the Spilsbury Mortuary at 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, UT 84770. Please call (435) 673-2454 for the time. Bud will be laid to rest in Hurricane, Utah.