Lt. Commander Purnel Levern Collicott

Lieutenant Commander Purnel L. “Verne” Collicott, USN retired, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2016. He was born in Colorado on December 29, 1919. He was a veteran of WWII and a survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After 24 years of active duty, he retired from the Navy in Key West, where we worked again for the Navy for a number of years. He also worked for the Key West Housing Authority for a few years. He and his wife, Juanita, moved to Jacksonville in 1985. They enjoyed traveling and the wonders of nature, and for seven summers traveled by motorhome throughout the United States and Canada. They then purchased a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee and enjoyed a few summers there until Juanita passed away in 1994.

For a number of years, following the death of his wife, Mr. Collicott wrote numerous poems and a few true articles about the days of his youth. Some of his poems were published in Bereavement magazine, in Good Old Days magazine, in the Mandarin News, and by the local Hospice. He especially liked to write about the wonders of nature and the goodness of God. In one poem, he writes, “When my time is up, and I pass on, don’t weep too much for me. It’s just the mortal me that’s gone, and my spirit is now free.”

He is survived by his step-daughter, Mary Ann of Jacksonville; his son-in-law, “Sonny” Smith; two grandsons; his beloved sister, Rosie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral services will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery located at 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville FL. 32207 on Monday, February 15, 2016 at 2:00pm. with Military Honors. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32257. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.