Mr. Gary Therone Collier

Collier, Mr. Gary Therone – Age 67, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2015 in Ocho Rio, Jamaica. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Five Fold Ministry Christian Center, 8041 N. McKinley Rd., Flushing, MI, with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Juanita Crump officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Collier will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1 p.m. – 8 p.m., with family present from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Collier will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., Pontiac, MI 48342, and may be viewed from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday. Gary was born on November 13, 1947 in Flint Michigan to the union of Ralphene and Ralph Collier. He graduated from Central High School in Flint and matriculated to Tennessee State University where he remained for a year before returning to Flint Michigan to work for General Motors Corporation. At an early age Gary was introduced to and developed a relationship with Christ while attending Sunday School at Bethlehem Temple of the Apostolic Faith. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on November 23, 1967 and honorably discharged on September 9, 1969. Gary was deployed to combat in Vietnam and received several medals including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 Overseas Bars, Expert Badge (Pistol .45), and Marksman Badge (M-14). Soon after his return from Vietnam, Gary met the love of his life, Cassandra Lynn Beck in 1971 and they were joined in holy matrimony on July 27, 1974 in Detroit Michigan. In the early years of their marriage, Gary returned to college at Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications. After graduation, he was a conscientious employee at various companies including National Cash Register (NCR), and Electronic Data Systems (EDS)/Hewlett Packard (HP). As a highly effective business manager, Gary was respected by his employees, peers and superiors, alike. He retired from HP in June 2011 after twenty-seven years. Gary frequently spoke with pride of his long and successful career. However, after he retired, he told everyone how this was the best time of his life. Gary had a lifelong love of music and a beautiful bass singing voice. He sang with an R & B group in the 1970's and performed at venues around Detroit including the famous 20 Grand Ballroom. Among his favorite hobbies was collecting a massive catalog of music covering many genres and eras. A regular highlight of family gatherings was the family Temptations singing group where Gary performed Melvin Franklin's parts. Gary was an avid sports fan, especially football and basketball. He also enjoyed drawing, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family. He was most proud of the home he and his wife built and often, could be found working to create a beautifully landscaped yard and cultivating his roses. Of all of Gary's favorite pastimes, he most enjoyed travelling the world with his wife. Gary’s favorite cities outside of the United States were, Barcelona Spain and Paris France. But, he also, particularly enjoyed Bangkok, Thailand; Cairo, Egypt; Rome, Italy and all of the Hawaiian islands. Along with his wife, he had a great love of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea and enjoyed many hours snorkeling and swimming all over the Caribbean islands including Jamaica where they returned often. Gary was a man of faith who loved his family. He was a loyal friend, and mentor to many youth with whom he enjoyed sharing his personal philosophy of how to live a fulfilling life. Gary wanted to see them do well, live right and be successful. He was a man of integrity, love and truth. Mr. Gary Therone Collier leaves to cherish his memory the love of his life, his wife, Cassandra, brother Bradley Collier (Carol), sister, Judge Tracy Collier-Nix, brother Edward Townsend, step-mother, Eula Collier, a special uncle Raymond Wilson; a host of loving cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends and a special God-daughter, Courtnie. Mr. Gary Therone Collier was preceded in death by his mother, Ralphene Collier, father Ralph Collier, stepfather, Roger B. Townsend, brothers Jeffrey Harris and Craig Townsend, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Martha and Albert Jackson, and several loving aunts, uncles and other family members. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastors Juanita Crump and Herbert Crump, the Five Fold Ministry family, friends Lawrence and Val Moon of the Lawrence Moon Funeral Home; the Morrison Family; Ann Marie Gouth-Pryce , General Manager and her staff at Jewel Dunns River Resort, Jamaica, W.I. , Cynthia Brazier and the numerous friends and family who have stepped up with an outpouring of love and support. WHEN I MUST LEAVE YOU When I must leave you for a little while Please do not grieve and shed wild tears And hug your sorrow to you through the years, But start out bravely with a gallant smile; And for my sake and in my name Live on and do all things the same, Feed not your loneliness on empty days But fill each waking hour in useful ways Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near, And never, never be afraid to die, For I am waiting for you in the sky!

Mr. Gary Therone Collier

November 13, 1947 - May 31, 2015