Wally Collier

Claren Wallace Collier, known to everyone as Wally, was born in Fort Worth, Texas on November 20, 1934 to Claren Wady Collier and Bessie Cleo Collier. He grew up in Houston, Texas with his two older sisters, Martha Jo and Flossie. While attending Abilene Christian College, he met and married Marian Johnson. They built a life together over 54 years until her passing in 2011.

After earning a Bachelor's degree in art, Wally received his Master's in education from Peabody in Nashville, Tennessee. He spent his career as an art teacher, first in Corpus Christi, Texas and Nashville, then spending most of his career on Long Island, teaching at Smithtown High School East. Although he began as a painter, he discovered an affinity for ceramics, which he continued to teach in adult education and at summer camps long after his retirement.

Wally and Marian moved to Long Island with their young family in 1963 with dozens of others from across the south to found the West Islip Church of Christ. His faith was central to him, a faith he believed called him to a life of service. He led Bible classes and prayer groups, and, as an elder in the Three Village Church in East Setauket, acted as a visiting minister to hospitals and Veteran's homes. Over the years he was a leader in Marriage Encounter, a Scoutmaster, and, always, an artist and teacher. Later in life, he also expressed his creativity through memoir and poetry writing

Even in his final years, spent at Atria in South Setauket and All American Assisted Living in Coram, he continued to be actively involved in his church and Bible studies. People knew him from the rocks he painted with images from nature and spiritual messages, which he gave as gifts to everyone he met.

An actively engaged father and grandfather, who always put family first, Wally, aka "Grand," is survived by his four children, Stephen, Karen, Alan, and Brian, eleven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral Service Livestream 12/20 1:55 PM

https://boxcast.tv/view/wally-collier-memorial-tib5i1niqx6goch6dvab?_gl=1*1f978tg*_gcl_au*MjA4ODExMDc3OS4xNzYyNzg5Mzc0LjEzMTkyNDQ0ODAuMTc2NTkyMTc4Ni4xNzY1OTIxOTE0*_ga*OTYxOTU3MjUwLjE2OTY1NDgwOTA.*_ga_PXBBF7HVWQ*czE3NjU5MjE3ODEkbzg2MSRnMSR0MTc2NTkyMTkxMyRqMzUkbDAkaDA.