Colleen McDonald Jakes

Colleen McDonald Jakes, age 86, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2015 at her residence. A native of Columbus, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Raymond C. and Opal Carnes McDonald. She was also preceded in death by a son, Victor O. Cole, Jr; and a brother, Raymond C. McDonald. Colleen graduated from Bryant and Stratton College in Buffalo, New York and later went to work at Western Carolina University, retiring in 1989. She was a member of Canton Central United Methodist Church where she was a part of the United Methodist Women. Colleen volunteered in activities such as, Hospital Volunteers at Haywood Regional Medical Center, American Cancer Society, and Relay for Life. Some of her previous civic and community activities were, Regional and District Judge for Olympics of the Mind, a member of Screening Committee for the NC Teaching Fellows Program, District and Regional; a member of the Trustees of the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System of North Carolina; a member of the Board of Trustees of Local Governmental Employees Retirement System; and a member of the Board of Trustees of C.J. Harris Community Hospital. She held various committee assignments including Vice Chairman of Board, Co-Chairman, Governors Leadership Conference for Women, Judge for Community Development Competitions, and the Western North Carolina Development Association. Other various committees include, Chairman of the Administrative Board, Finance committee, Council on Ministries, and of the Race and Religion committee at Cullowhee United Methodist Church. Colleen professional activities include Project Coordinator of Sultan Qaboos University Project, Muscat, Oman Project Coordinator, fourteen Panels of the President's Science Advisory Committee on the World Food Supply, and she completed Cherokee Corn research project after the death of H.F. Robinson. She loved her family and friends enjoyed gardening, reading, golfing, growing orchids, volunteering, spending time with her dog, Brownie, her horse, Sassy, and her daughters' dogs, Andy, Chevy, Mutt, and Dixie. She is survived by her loving husband, Robert N. Jakes, of 43 years; two daughters, Janet C. Leatherwood and her husband, Wayne, of Canton and Bridget C. Arnold and her husband, Tony, of Cary; four step-children, Miriam Jakes of Hilversum, The Netherlands, Colleen G. Vincent and her husband, Dale, of West Branch, Iowa, Paul O. Jakes and his wife, Mary, of Frankfort, Indiana, and Robin L. Jakes and his wife, Sheila, of Linden, Indiana; three grandchildren, ten step grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 23 step grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a special niece, Pam Yates and her family. Colleen's family would like to extend a special "thank you" to caregiver, Whitney Parker, and the entire staff of CarePartners Hospice. Memorial services will be held at 11: 00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Canton Central United Methodist Church with the Reverend Paul Brown and Carrol Lindsey officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Canton Central United Methodist Church, P.O Box 792, Canton, NC 28716, Haywood Animal Welfare Association, P. O. Box 992, Waynesville, NC 28786 or CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.