Alvin Collier

Alvin Duane Collier passed away at the age of 82 due to complications of late-stage Lewy Body Dementia on June 18, 2021 at his Vallecito Lake home in Bayfield, Colorado. He was born in Denver, Colorado on September 22, 1938 to Melvin Collier and Amy Hamrick. His stepmother, Pauline Collier, raised him for most of his childhood. Alvin graduated from Englewood High School with the class of 1957. After high school, he served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway (CVA-41) during his tour of duty in the United States Navy. He married Sharon Lee Bacon in Englewood, Colorado on September 12, 1959. They spent the first years of their marriage in Englewood. In 1967, they moved to Littleton, Colorado where they raised their four children. After residing in Littleton for 37 years, they relocated to Olathe, Colorado in 2004 and then to Vallecito Lake in 2017.
Alvin went to work for the Rio Grande Railroad in 1959. Over the course of his career, the Southern Pacific Railroad and subsequently the Union Pacific Railroad took over the Rio Grande’s operations in Denver. He retired from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1998 after 39 years of service. In his free time, Alvin enjoyed outdoor adventures such as archery, technical rock climbing, rock hounding, hiking, camping, fishing and exploring the ruins of ancient native civilizations in the Desert Southwest. As a member of the National Speleological Society - Colorado Grotto, he was one of the first people to scuba dive in Spring Cave, discovering and mapping many more miles of cave passage. He also developed a system to repair broken cave formations in commercial caves such as Glenwood Caverns. His free time indoors was spent becoming an expert pool player which involved thousands of hours of practice over the years. In his youth, Alvin built boats with his father. In his final years, he established the fishing boat “Freedom” to take veterans and wounded warriors on fishing excursions at Ridgway and Vallecito Reservoirs, often in support of veterans groups like Welcome Home Montrose. Alvin was a proud member of American Legion Post #24 in Olathe, Colorado. He and his wife were also members of the Olathe Lions Club and the Good Sams Club - San Juan Sams Chapter. They made many life-long, treasured friendships while participating in club functions.

Alvin is preceded in death by his parents Melvin Ashby Collier, Pauline Dyanne Collier and Amy Hamrick; father-in-law - John Richard Bacon; mother-in-law - Dorothy Alice Bacon; sister - Erma Eileen Van Meter; brother - Earnley Lester Hamrick; sister - Dorothy Louise Wyman and granddaughter - Carrie Ann Sutterlin.

He is survived by his wife of 62 Years - Sharon Lee Collier; sister - Dyanna Lee Ivy (John); daughter - Laurel Leiha Cohen; son - Mark Alan Collier (Jeri); daughter - Jodi Dian Riddle (Mike); son - Erik Dean Collier; grandson - Justin Sean Johnson; granddaughter - Heather Louise Daigan; grandson - Matthew Duane Riddle; grandson - Michael Allen Riddle; granddaughter - Jessica Leighs; granddaughter - Jennifer Saltzmann; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Interment services with military honors will take place at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 1 pm. The cemetery address is 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501.

A remembrance service and meal will follow in the ballroom at the Courtyard by Marriott - Grand Junction. The hotel address is 765 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506.

Those who are unable to attend the events in Grand Junction are welcome to attend an alternate memorial service on Sunday, August 1, 2021 which will take place at Vallecito Lake. For more information, please send a text message to (303) 875-1817.