Dolores Collier, 72, died peacefully Sunday, October 13, 2013 of complications from a stroke she suffered last month. She was born in Little Rock, AR on February 12, 1941, the youngest of four, and graduated from North Little Rock High in 1959. She was a long time resident of Houston, TX.
Dolores spent many years in the banking industry, working her way up from teller to management, while raising her son and two daughters throughout small towns in Arkansas, Kansas & Missouri before moving to Houston. In 1980 she helped oversee the opening of the Bank of San Felipe Green (now Bank of America) as the Marathon Oil Tower was under construction next door.
Several years after moving to Houston, she made a career change and went into the grocery industry, working 16 years for Kroger. As a staffer & trainer her “hires” were like her “kids”, and as Customer Service Manager, her customers were her extended family, constantly adding to her extensive refrigerator magnet collection from their travels all over the world.
In 2007 Dolores retired from work to face, battle and conquer breast cancer, already a survivor of cervical cancer. Dolores was a fighter, and two years later, against all odds, she fought her way back from a life-threatening fall & subsequent complications, in three hospitals over five months. In 2012 she suffered a stroke, recovering almost completely with physical & occupational therapy & brave determination.
Dolores will be best known for her love of cooking and gardening, most notably the latter. As a resident of Park Shadows Apartments, her garden of two small flower beds quickly grew to encompass her neighbors’ small flower beds & eventually the entire courtyard. The ever-expanding area of flowers & vegetables, along with bird & squirrel feeders, led to the courtyard becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Residents continue to enjoy its beauty and serenity.
Dolores is survived by sister Patricia Smith, son Chris Akin (Barbie), daughters Amber Winborn (Trey) & April Akin-Miani (Suni), grandsons Brandon & Kyle Winborn, Matt Vogel, step grandchildren Tracy Winborn, Kelly Winborn, Erica Roberson, step great-grandson Joshua Winborn, companion John Miller, her beloved dachshund Penny, and numerous nieces, nephews & friends.
The family would like to thank VITAS Hospice for providing such loving care to Dolores & specifically Karen Williams, a true angel.
In lieu of flowers & if so desired, contributions can be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the American Stroke Association.
Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery
Chapelwood United Methodist Church
Chapelwood United Methodist Church
Dolores Collier, 72, died peacefully Sunday, October 13, 2013 of complications from a stroke she suffered last month. She was born in Little Rock, AR on February 12, 1941, the youngest of four, and graduated from North Little Rock High in 1959. She was a long time resident of Houston, TX.
Dolores spent many years in the banking industry, working her way up from teller to management, while raising her son and two daughters throughout small towns in Arkansas, Kansas & Missouri before moving to Houston. In 1980 she helped oversee the opening of the Bank of San Felipe Green (now Bank of America) as the Marathon Oil Tower was under construction next door.
Several years after moving to Houston, she made a career change and went into the grocery industry, working 16 years for Kroger. As a staffer & trainer her “hires” were like her “kids”, and as Customer Service Manager, her customers were her extended family, constantly adding to her extensive refrigerator magnet collection from their travels all over the world.
In 2007 Dolores retired from work to face, battle and conquer breast cancer, already a survivor of cervical cancer. Dolores was a fighter, and two years later, against all odds, she fought her way back from a life-threatening fall & subsequent complications, in three hospitals over five months. In 2012 she suffered a stroke, recovering almost completely with physical & occupational therapy & brave determination.
Dolores will be best known for her love of cooking and gardening, most notably the latter. As a resident of Park Shadows Apartments, her garden of two small flower beds quickly grew to encompass her neighbors’ small flower beds & eventually the entire courtyard. The ever-expanding area of flowers & vegetables, along with bird & squirrel feeders, led to the courtyard becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Residents continue to enjoy its beauty and serenity.
Dolores is survived by sister Patricia Smith, son Chris Akin (Barbie), daughters Amber Winborn (Trey) & April Akin-Miani (Suni), grandsons Brandon & Kyle Winborn, Matt Vogel, step grandchildren Tracy Winborn, Kelly Winborn, Erica Roberson, step great-grandson Joshua Winborn, companion John Miller, her beloved dachshund Penny, and numerous nieces, nephews & friends.
The family would like to thank VITAS Hospice for providing such loving care to Dolores & specifically Karen Williams, a true angel.
In lieu of flowers & if so desired, contributions can be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the American Stroke Association.
Susan G. Komen For The Cure
5005 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75244.
Website Link
American Stroke Association
Website Link
I am so glad that Dolores was part of our family, here at Park Shadows. She was always smiling and handing out treats to the dogs. She added much beauty to the second courtyard, by planting beautiful roses and other plants. She was also always decorating the courtyard, neighbor's flower beds and her neighbors front doors. Ms. Dolores was very loved and will be missed.
On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank you and your staff for your excellent and caring service.
Thank you for all you did to make our mother's funeral special, dignified, and easy for us.
I just can't express to you enough how much we appreciated the kindness and professionalism my family experienced with you and your staff.
Thank you for treating my beloved mother with honor and respect all throughout the process.
Our family will be forever grateful to the owner and staff at Beresford Funeral Services for the excellent services they provided to our family upon the death of our loved one. Everything went smoothly. The planning was easy with everything needed for the funeral provided on sight at reasonable prices with no pressure to spend more than planned. They were flexible with our personal plans, very kind, and considerate from beginning to end. We would definitely recommend Beresford Funeral Services to anyone in need of funeral services.
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