Anita Jeanne McCollum

Anita Jeanne McCollum, 91, of Houston passed away peacefully on Sunday, the 5th of March 2017. Anita was born on the 12th of August 1925, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was the only child of Arthur and Grace Morrison Arrington.

She was a loving wife and partner to her husband, Jess, and a beloved mother and grandmother to her children and grandchildren. She graduated from Central High School in Tulsa in 1943. Anita attended the University of Arkansas and graduated in Business. While at the University of Arkansas, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She returned to Tulsa after college and worked at Stanolind Oil where she met her husband. They married in Tulsa, on her birthday in 1951 and were married for 52 wonderful years. They moved to Sweeny Texas followed by a move to Houston. While in Sweeny Anita taught business, and typing at Sweeny High School. Shortly after moving to Houston Anita and Jess started their family. The family made several moves between Houston, and Tulsa finally settling in Houston in 1968. While in Tulsa they were members of First Presbyterian Church and she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumna Association, the Seed and Sod Garden Club, the Tulsa Hearing Auxiliary and the Tulsa Cerebral Palsy Association. In Houston, the family belonged to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, the Petroleum Club and Lakeside Country Club. Anita was very active in the Houston Area Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae and earned her 75-year pin. She was also active in the Texas A&M Mothers Association, Wilchester Women’s Bridge Club, Marathon Bridge Club, and the Memorial Area Women’s Investment Club. Anita was blessed with a life-long close circle of friends. These women grew up together, raised their families together, shopped, and enjoyed many, many lively bridge games. Anita was an excellent bridge and duplicate bridge player.

Jess and Anita loved the mountains and the family spent many summers hiking, camping and fishing in the wilderness of the Wind River Mountains and the Big Sandy area of Wyoming. They traveled the world extensively both with business and for pleasure.

Anita will be fondly remembered as a woman gifted with southern hospitality, a love for family, a loyal friend, with a genuine interest in others and a joy for life.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Arrington and Grace Arrington as well as her husband, Jess McCollum. She is survived by daughter, Julie Burke and her husband, Tim Burke of Spring, TX; son, Bryan McCollum of Houston; 4 grandsons, Timothy Burke, Esq. of Charleston, S.C., Robert Burke of Spring, Andrew and Michael McCollum of Houston.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Buckingham, doctors and nurses at the Plaza at the Buckingham, the caregivers of Dream Care and Vitas Hospice for their loving care and support.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from seven until nine o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 8th of March 2017, in the parlor of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 9th of March 2017, in the Chapel of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston.

Interment service will be held Saturday, the 11th of March 2017, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The family has requested that in lieu of customary remembrances, memorials may be made to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024 or the charity of one's choice.