M. Colette Erikson, 85, of Moline, Illinois passed away Friday, June 2, 2023 at Clarissa C Cook Hospice House. A memorial service to honor her memory will be held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11am at First Baptist Church, visitation will be before the service starting at 10am. Memorials in Colette’s name may be made to First Baptist Church.
Colette was born on October 11, 1937 in Moline, Illinois to Arthur and Juanita Staelens. She attended Rock Island High School and graduated in 1955. Following high school, Colette worked as a reservationist at United Airlines, and she was the 20,000th employee of the company. She worked as an administrator at Clarissa Cook Home for many years before she retired in 2001. After her retirement she went on to work part time at Weerts Funeral Home as a greeter. She was united in marriage to Robert Echols on July 27, 1957; they later divorced in 1982 but remained close friends. Colette later married Clifford Erikson on May 27, 1988, he passed away in 1991. Colette was an avid gardener and loved to read and work on jig-saw and crossword puzzles. Colette was very social and loved to befriend those she met. She was an active member at First Christian Church for 23 years and later joined the First Baptist Church family.
Those left to honor her memory are her children Erin (Kevin) Hester and Eric (Candy) Echols; her grandchildren Jennifer Vinson, Arianne (Jake Kirkpatrick) Echols, Autumn (Kellan) Nealy, and Grace Echols; five wonderful great-grandchildren; her beloved sister Bonnie Marino; many nieces and nephews; and many special friends.
She was preceded in death by her both husbands Robert and Clifford, her parents, her brother Robert Staelens; and her best friends Arn Carlson and Russ Roberts.
