John A. Collier

Owner of Collier's Gallery and Framing for 57 years and retired Coast Guard Auxiliary national staff officer, he died Sunday, March 21, 2010, at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., Thursday, March 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a memorial service starting at 7 p.m. Survived by his daughter, Tommy Collier Simmons and husband David L. Simmons; his son, John "Jo" Alan Collier Jr. and wife Anne D. Collier; grandchildren, David L. Simmons Jr. and wife Karyn G. Simmons, of Dallas; Carl Bingham Simmons and wife Jennifer G. Simmons, of Marietta, Ga.; and Ann Collier Ellement and husband Matthew K. Ellement, of Sanford, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Wessie and Abygail Simmons, Benjamin and Max Simmons; and dear friend, Mildred Taylor. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bertha S. Collier and John B. Collier; wife, Ann Moseley Collier; and beloved grandson, John Alan Collier III. John A. Collier Sr. was recognized for his state and national service through the Coast Guard Auxiliary in promoting boating safety and lobbying for boat operator licensing. He traveled to all 50 states setting up Coast Guard Auxiliary instructor schools. John Alan Collier Sr. consistently earned national ranking for his hours of service in promoting boating safety. His desire to work in boating safety and rescue training was prompted by an incident during his Merchant Marine service during World War II when he was able to save the lives of two crew members after their lifeboat caught fire during a rescue assignment. Prior to opening Collier's Gallery and Framing, John A. Collier Sr. worked with the Ditto Co., manufacturer of the purple-ink duplicating machines sold to plants, schools and churches in the 1950s. He was twice the top Ditto salesman in the U.S. and had a territory across south Louisiana. John met his wife Ann in New York during the war. They moved to Baton Rouge for him to enroll at LSU in landscape architecture. John Alan Collier Sr. enjoyed telling jokes, playing the comedian in skits and making people laugh and have fun. He enjoyed a good time and didn't believe in worrying about anything. The family wants everyone to remember his stories. John A. Collier Sr. was a Christian Scientist. He was also a past member of the Downtown Kiwanis and a past president of Tip Masters. Donations in his memory can be made to the John Alan Collier III Tennis Scholarship Memorial, c/o YMCA Paula G. Manship Branch, 8100 YMCA Plaza Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810-0916 or to the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4-10 Boating Safety Program, c/o Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 4-10, 1148 Richland Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.