Robert “Rob” Phillip Collier
Rob Collier, 58, died of cancer on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, after three years of battling the disease. Rob was born to Robert James and Elizabeth May Heilman Collier in Roseburg, Oregon on June 25th, 1952. Most of Rob’s earlier years were spent in the wonderful state of Oregon, traveling back and forth from Roseburg to the Oregon coast, with a love of the mountains as well as the ocean. Rob is the eldest of five brothers (Bruce, David, Gary, Daniel, and Michael) and two sisters (Judy and Linda), all of which live in Oregon. He is preceded in death by his beloved mother and dad, one brother (Bruce), and both sisters (Judy and Linda).
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies. A viewing was held Thursday, December 9 from 2 to 4 p.m., and Friday, December 10, from 10 to 4 p.m. A military taps will begin at 4:00 pm, and end with a flag folding ceremony. A small gathering will take place at 105 Black Pine Trail after the viewing on Friday. A larger memorial dinner will be planned after the holiday season for family and friends. Rob asked to be cremated and his ashes placed under a “Peace” rose, to exemplify his desire to create peace.
Rob served in the U.S. Navy for three years and was honorable discharged, at which time he married his high school sweetheart, Laura Ann Nimmo, and had three children of which two were SID and one surviving son Robert Jr., who currently lives in Oregon and has two children (Katelyn and Jonah). Rob earned his GED in the Navy and attended Blackfeet Community College for one year before stopping out to develop his career.
In 1979, Rob met his soul mate Patrick Weasel Head in which they lived together in harmony for 31 years, moving from Oregon to Browning, Mont., where Rob went to college and worked at the local clothing store called Faughts. After a few years in Browning, both moved to Bozeman where Rob worked at the Gibson Store as Sporting Goods manager. It was in Bozeman where Rob started his wood carving career in which he would carve small animals and water fowl. As careers go, Rob and Patrick moved to Portland, Ore. where Rob established a long term career with Fred Meyer Kroger Corp. as store manager and moved around the many Fred Meyer stores in the Portland area. He received many store acclimations for his outstanding work and customer services in all the Fred Meyer stores in which he worked. Yet another career change brought both back to Missoula, where Rob worked at local stores and eventually landed the best job he ever had as the Cultural Coordinator for Traveler’s Rest State Park. It was at this time where Rob presented cultural story telling at many of the Missoula County Public Schools, at the Traveler’s Rest State Park, and at the Big Hole Battle Field. He was especially proud to present stories about his family’s Nez Perce (Nimipoo) background and was one of many cultural story tellers in the area of which all maintained ties with Rob. He was well liked and received many “thanks” for a job well done. Rob was especially proud when President Dennison asked him to say a prayer at the “Peace Memorial” after 9/11 in front of approximately 2,000 students and community members.
Along his path in life Rob touched many people with his caring behavior. He adopted many people and at times helped raise several children who became “his kids.” Two of “his kids” are Lace Head-Rides Horse (Crow Agency) and Delia Bear Leggins-Trujillo (Tacoma), and their children became grandchildren of Rob. His life was further enriched by his kids and grand kids as well as the many friends he met while working at the Traveler’s Rest State Park, with the university, and in the Missoula community. Rob was truly a great friend that will be missed by many and exemplified a “sweet man” who cared about others and welcomed them into his life.
