Mary Janice McWhorter Collett passed peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday, 6/15/18, surrounded by loving family. She was born to Ray S. & Nellie (McCorkle) McWhorter in Algona, Iowa. Mary went to a small country school & graduated from Burt High School with perfect attendance. She attended Iowa State, and then graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, MN. She persuaded her father to let her become a pilot so she could fly his “crop-dusting” plane to nursing school.
Mary met her husband, Dr. Robert Waterman Collett in the church choir as he completed his training at the Mayo Clinic. They married on 2/6/1949 and moved to Denver where all 5 kids were born and raised. She acted in plays at Bonfils Theatre and entertained many with her original creative stories & songs, dressing her Pomeranians as the “Storybooks Dogs”. She lived a spirited life filled with travels around the world with her husband, singing in the church choir and Canto Deo. She was the first Shaklee Supervisor in Colorado. She was widowed in 1971. She continued her work into her 7th decade, including 20 years as a private duty Hospice R.N.
She is survived by her children: Rob (Cindy), Dr. Cami Collett (Peter Conwell), Chester (Leigh-Ann), Mac (Angie), Jennifer Collett (surviving spouse of John), 14 grandchildren and 3 great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents, both sisters (Virginia Becker & Barbara Johns), her husband, Dr. Bob Collett, and son, John Collett. She loved to say “Live All the Way”. We will miss your songs and laughter.
Family & friends will gather on Saturday, 6/23/18 at 9 AM for the viewing, & 10 AM for the graveside service at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S Colo. Blvd., Centennial, CO 80121. Her Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held Saturday, 6/23/18, 12-noon at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church: 10150 East Belleview Ave., Englewood, CO 80111.
Please send memorial contributions to Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in memory of Mary.
