Lela P Collier

1925  -  November 13, 2020

Lela Collier of Hermiston, Oregon, was born in Minnesota in 1925.  She passed away peacefully at her home on November 13, 2020 at the age of 95 years. 

Lela graduated from High School in Minnesota.  She earned a pilot’s license and was in the Civil Air Patrol during WW2. She lived at several locations across the United States before moving to the Hermiston area with her husband and children in the 1970’s.  

Lela was a homemaker devoted to her five children.  While her children were young, she was a girl scout leader, a Sunday School Teacher and assisted with cub scouts. Lela liked to travel and visited almost all fifty states and some parts of Canada and Mexico. She took her children to see many historical sites, state parks and national parks which included tent camping on occasion. 

Lela had natural talent for the piano and could play tunes ‘by ear’.  She was also a talented artist and as her youngest children went off to college, she resumed painting, with her favorite subjects being landscapes and flowers.  She also did other crafts and belonged to a quilters group.  

Lela enjoyed flowers and flower arranging and as a volunteer, provided floral decorations for her church and the public library for several years.  She was a member of the Bloomer Girl Garden Club, serving a term as president.  She was flower show chairman once and was on the organizing committee for other flower shows.  Lela enjoyed the Umatilla County Fair and after several years of winning prizes for her artwork and flowers, started serving as superintendent for floriculture and art competitions.  She was president of an art club and judged student art competitions.  Lela was an active member for over 50 years and an officer of the Order of Eastern Star service organization and was granted lifetime membership.  She sang in the Hermiston Community Choir and also enjoyed socializing with her friends in a birthday club and the Red Hat Society.  Lela was an active member of the Hermiston First United Methodist Church.  

For many years she provided service as a volunteer in several organizations including: transportation for church members who couldn’t drive; the Hermiston Library; the SMART reader program to help school children; the Good Samaritan Center; Red Cross blood drive; and the RSVP program of Eastern Oregon.  

She loved animals and was fond of the pet dogs and cats she had over the years.  She also helped stray cats.  Lela was courageous, adventurous, intelligent, caring and kind to everyone and a loving mother and grandmother.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Elvina, and Joe, her husband of 53 years.  She is survived by her five children; Linda, Becky, Judith, Rhonda, Joe, and four grandchildren; Nathan, Kieron, Tynan, and Shannon.

If you wish to make a contribution in memory of Lela Collier, please donate to Vange John Memorial Hospice Education Fund or the Hermiston First United Methodist Church  c/o Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, Oregon 97838

A celebration of life service at Hermiston First United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at11:00 AM, 191 E Gladys Avenue, Hermiston, Oregon 97838

Please share memories of Lela with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.