CWO4 Edward Fitzgerald Collier, age, 52, passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 23rd 2017. Edward is survived by his wife of 22 years Gwendolyn, daughters Daisha, and Sash-sha; Step children Daisi-Mae and Dereck-Henry and granddaughter Leila, his mother Margaret Mallett, his grandmother Ella Mimms, and his siblings; Kenneth(Andrea) Woods of Indianapolis, IN., Terrance Collier of Anderson, IN., Tania (Albert) Robinson of Anderson, IN. and Britt Mallett of Anderson, IN. and his cousin Jewel Moses of Youngstown, OH, as well as plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins. Edward was preceded in death by his father Willie Collier, great grandparents Kit and Betsy George, his cousins Felesha and Curtis Moses and Aunt Betsy Dixon. Edward retired from the Marine Corps on 25 June 2010. He was an avid sports fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Braves, and University of Alabama Crimson Tide ( Roll Tide!) which lead to his daughter Sash-Sha attending his favorite college in Alabama.
CWO4 Collier was born in Anderson, IN in 1964. He attended Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, AL graduating in 1982. In July 1982 he enlisted and entered Marine Corps recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina and graduated from Platoon 2063, Fox Company, 2nd RTBN.
After completing boot camp at Parris Island SC., CWO4 Collier received orders to the Naval Air Warfare Center, Lakehurst, NJ where he received training as an Expeditionary Airfield Specialist (MOS 7011). In December 1982 he was transferred to Marine Air Base Squadron 24/MWSS-173, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. In 1986 he left the Marine Corps and joined the Police Department in Montgomery County, Alabama but returned in 1988 where he received orders to MWSS-273, MCAS Beaufort, SC; in April 1990 he reported to Drill Instructor School MCRD Parris Island where he completed a successful tour as a Drill Instructor.
In July 1992, he returned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI as a part of MWSS-174, upon the decommissioning of that unit CWO4 Collier was transferred to MWSS-371, MCAS Yuma, AZ where he was subsequently selected for Warrant Officer in 1997. After successful completion of the Warrant Officer Basic Course attaining the MOS of 7002, he then attended Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting school, and was reassigned to HQ MWSG-17. He returned to the Continental United States in July 2002 as the NAVAIRSYSCOM Marine Liaison Officer, Naval Air Warfare Center, Lakehurst, NJ. In July 2006 he was transferred to the Expeditionary Airfield/Fire and Emergency Services Officer, HQMC, Pentagon Aviation Support Logistics ASL/APX. He retired from the Marine Corps and was hired by Sabre Systems Located in Pennsylvania as a Contractor .
CWO4 Collier’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, Good Conduct Medal with bronze star, National Defense Medal with bronze star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze star, Arctic Service ribbon, Drill Instructor Ribbon and multiple unit awards.
In Lieu of flowers please donate to: https://semperfifund.org/donate/
Please make donations towards purchasing an Alabama brick for the Collier Family
