Joyce Collier

JOYCE ARLENE COLLIER

(nee Falconer)

January 17, 1939 – September 19, 2013

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joyce Arlene Collier of Portage la Prairie, at the age of 74, at Portage General Hospital. Her memory will be cherished by her children, Cathleen (Eric) of Toronto, Brenda (Ross) of Halifax, Douglas (Ronda) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Andrew (Carleigh) of Winnipeg. Her six grandchildren, Kaitlin, Brianna, Ryan, Sydney, Donavan and Olivia, will miss her tremendously. She is survived by brother-in-law Allan (Nola), sister-in-law Margaret (Don) and several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband of 51 years, Dr. Kenn Collier, sister Barbara Lesley who died as an infant, and by sister-in-law Jean (Wayne).

Joyce was born to Dorothy Louise and Douglas Grey Falconer in Winnipeg on January 17, 1939. She spent her youth in Winnipeg very involved with sports including basketball, track and field and swimming. She was in the first graduating class of Churchill High School.  During her teen years, Joyce and her father had tickets to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and loved their father-daughter time together at the games regardless of occasionally frigid temperatures.  After high school she worked at the CBC until joining the Navy, a brief experience, as she didn't appreciate having people ordering her what to do.  Joyce also joined the Winnipeg Canoe Club where she canoed and played tennis. It was paddling that was her main focus, and it wasn’t just a leisurely pursuit, as her team won a national competition in Ottawa at age 17 and broke the event’s speed record.  On weekends, with friends from the Canoe Club, they would pack canoes on racks, drive to Kenora, then paddle to Scotties Island where they would camp for the weekend and generally just have a great time. On one of these trips, a regular camper brought along one Kenneth John Collier. Kenn and Joyce were subsequently married on June 18, 1960 in the Rosedale United Church. On their honeymoon at Falcon Lake, Kenn introduced Joyce to golf, an event that would change Mom’s life, and ultimately impact countless golfers across Canada. In addition to playing and loving the game, she started her career as a golf volunteer at the Portage Golf Club, where today, the Joyce Collier Award is presented annually to the top junior golfer.  She was president of the Manitoba Ladies Golf Association in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and went on to become Canadian Ladies Golf Association Director of Player Development in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Joyce was also an associate governor in the Royal Canadian Golf Association from 2006 to 2008. She took great pride in watching several junior players she worked with go on to become players on the LPGA tour and teaching professionals. Joyce was instrumental in the formation of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, and served as president from 2003 to 2006.  She had the great honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame herself in 2012. She also was the 2012 recipient of Golf Manitoba’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her decades of service to the game.

But above all, Joyce was a devoted mother and grandmother.  She was involved with and supported countless activities for her family, from hockey and figure skating to piano lessons and family trips. And of course, initiating all of her children and grandchildren in the game of golf she so loved.

Joyce’s friends were very important to her throughout her life, and for the last year they were of immeasurable help in providing support and comfort to her.  The family would like to express their profound thanks to them.  They would also like to thank the nursing staff at Portage District Hospital and the individuals at the Regional Health Authority that cared for and supported Mom so compassionately during her last weeks.

A private service will be held in honour of Joyce.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so desire, donations can be made in Joyce’s memory to the Dr. Kenneth J. and Joyce A. Collier Fund at the Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc., P.O. Box 1153, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3J9 ( www.cfpdi.ca ).  A message can be left in the on-line guest book at www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com.