LETA GRIFFITH COLLIER
June 9, 1927-Jan. 23, 2017
Leta Griffith Collier, 89, passed away Monday, Jan. 23, in Greensboro, N.C.
She was born June 9, 1927, to Ina (Rohde) and Eric Griffith in Oakdale, Ill., and grew up in small towns across southern Illinois, where her father served as a school principal.
Leta and her sister, Shirley, a year older, were best friends and constant companions until Leta married, and they remained close throughout their lives.
As a young woman, Leta worked at Famous-Barr department store in St. Louis, sharing an apartment with Shirley.
On one weekend visit with their parents they were surprised to learn that another sister, Judy, was on the way.
Around the same time, Leta met Duane Collier of Pikeville, N.C.
Duane had served in the Navy during World War II, and was attending Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis.
They married in the Methodist church in Joppa, Ill., blocks from the Ohio River where she had been baptized as a youth, and settled in Goldsboro, N.C., near his family. There they built one of the first chiropractic practices in the region, with Leta managing the business side.
They were true partners in their lives, and complemented each other for nearly 35 years. Duane's death in 1985 upended Leta's world.
In her later years, she returned to live with her sister Shirley, and close to Judy in Greenville, Ill.
Leta had a natural talent for drawing, painting and wood carving.
Having learned to play violin and piano as a child, she loved music. She also wrote and appreciated poetry, and was an avid student of history.
Leta poured herself and these gifts into her family, especially her children, Sam and Suzanne. She also was fiercely proud of her five grandchildren.
Leta's mischievous sense of humor, stories of the old days and devotion to family are remembered with fondness and gratitude.
Leta is survived by her son, Samuel Eric (Jane Branscomb) of Atlanta; daughter, Suzanne (Mitchell) Johnson of Greensboro; sister, Judith Schneck of Greenville, Ill.; and grandchildren, Christopher (Jose Martinez) and Larson Collier and Rachel, Natalie and Mark Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Duane (1985); sister, Shirley Griffith (2013); and brother-in-law, William Schneck (2016).
The family will receive visitors at Howell Funeral Home Sunday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m.
A memorial service and reception will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph United Methodist Church in Pikeville.
Light a candle at www.howellfuneral.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 29, 2017 9:02 AM