Joe M Collier

Joe M. Collier, 85, passed away peacefully on All Saints Day in his Barrington home.

He was born December 16, 1935, the son of George Lytle and Rhoda Stidham Collier, and grew up in the beautiful Powell Valley of Western Virginia.  He joined the U.S. Army and worked as a Morse Code operator in Germany during the Cold War, then became the first member of his family to attend college, graduating from East Tennessee State University. He then launched a successful career in the printing industry which led him from Virginia to Tennessee, Buffalo, New York City, Chicago, Texas, and ultimately back to Barrington, Illinois.  Fortunately, his travels introduced Joe to the love of his life when he spotted a captivating flight attendant named Gail Tarbox on an American Airlines flight.  Joe was Gail’s strongest supporter through everything.  They joyfully celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past March.  Joe was a devoted family man, trading in his prized 1967 red Corvette convertible upon the birth of their twins.  Joe loved his job (and reluctantly retired at age 76), but also cherished time at home.  He championed family members by cheering at soccer games, swim meets, band concerts, and tirelessly helping at Gail’s art shows.  Pastimes included gardening, tinkering, and golfing.  He loved the outdoors, especially spending summers on Little Cranberry Island, Maine. Joe almost always had a pocketknife or a lucky rock (worn smooth over time) in his pocket.  A gregarious person who adored chatting and telling stories, Joe was often the last one to leave a party with friends or neighbors.  Joe’s life took on a renewed level of activity and happiness when his grandchildren were born.  He cherished and was beyond proud of Claire, Austin, Cole, and Matthew, and was the ultimate grandfather (“Poppi”), oftentimes found chasing a soccer ball, demonstrating a golf swing, teaching how to bait a fishhook, telling jokes, or just throwing rocks into the ocean with his four beloved grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Gail (nee Tarbox), children Kendra (Christopher) Shearer and Joel (Ann) Collier, and grandchildren Claire, Austin, Cole, and Matthew.

Visitation at 4-7 p.m. November 12th, Davenport Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St., Barrington, IL.  Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. November 13th at St. Mark’s Church, 337 Ridge Rd., Barrington Hills, internment immediately following at the memorial garden.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:  Alzheimer’s Association, St. Mark’s Church (Barrington Hills), or the Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA).