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Maryland “Shorty” Collier, 75 of Temperance, MI, died Friday, May 2, 2014, in his home.  Born April 14, 1939 in Kentucky, he was the son of Wilburn and Cora (McCray) Collier. A member of the UAW Local 14, he worked at General Motors Powertrain, Toledo, OH, as a Journeyman Welder (a.k.a. “Killer”), until he retired after 29 years. He married Rita (Rorrer-Reed) Collier on June 27, 1998, in Monroe, MI. Shorty was a member of the IOOF #467, out of Lambertville. He was a handyman, extremely talented with woodworking, a jack of all trades. A very charismatic, people person, everyone was drawn to his fun and loving character.

Survivors are his wife, daughters, Eva (Ron) Evoe and Karen (Mohamed) Elaasar, grandchildren, Chelsea (Josh), Brandon, Andy, Jill (Derek), Mindy, Kayla,  and Jeremy. Great-granddaughter, Tegan. Twin-brother, Maylon “Tony” (Ruth), brother, Ben (Pat), Eugene, and Wilburn Jr. (Porschea). Sisters, Leona, Cora Mae (Mike), and Violet. Also surviving are two very close friends, Jim Rowe and Maury Benson.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Brothers, James and Ark Willis. Sisters, Nanetta, Emma Rose, Betsy Lou, Zelma Lee, Oma, Minnie, and Ival.

Visitation will be Monday, May 5, from 4-9 a.m. at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman), Temperance, MI. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home where he will lie in state after 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle, MI. The family would like to thank Promedica Hospice for their excellent care, especially Shorty’s nurses, Melanie and Joanne.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. www.pawlakfuneralhome.com

Memorial Video: Maryland “Shorty” Collier