James Russell Collier 1922-1981

James Russell Collier was born in Dixon, Missouri on July 27, 1922 the son of Huber and Vaneta Tull Collier and passed away in the Veterans Hospital in Columbia on Saturday, June 6, 1981.  He had attained the age of 58 years.

He was united in marriage to Muriel Barnhart on June 22, 1942 and to this union 1 son and 1 daughter were born.  Russell joined the Army in December 1942 and served until September 1945.  He received a Theater Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars, a good conduct ribbon and a purple heart.  He was wounded in France in 1944, serving a total of 2 years and 10 months.  He belonged to the VFW in Dixon and the Carpenters Local Union in Lebanon 2297.

He is survived by his wife Muriel of the home in Jerome, 1 son Lester of LaGrange, Mo., 1 daughter Mrs. Sonja Kay Krempges of Springfield, Mo., 1 grandson T.J. Collier, 4 sisters, Veva Penland of Livingston, Texas, Inez Higgs of Texas City, Texas, Verna Rickerson of Dixon, and Bernice Ronertson of Cuba, with a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services were held in the Gilbert Chapel on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Billy Elam officiating.  Burial was in the Fox Crossing Cemetery under the direction of the Gilbert Funeral Home of Dixon.  Serving as pallbearers were Charles McEntee, Dean Baker, Archie Nichols, ___ Campbell, J.C. Blanton, and Paris Claiborn.