Obituary of Doris May Collison

Doris May (Woodruff) Collison passed away at her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.� She died after steadily declining health.Doris was born to Emry and Sophia "Sophie" (Schwartz) Woodruff in Maplewood, Missouri on October 18, 1930.�She was number six of ten children: two boys and eight girls.�The family grew up firmly established in the Lutheran Church, which continued to play a key role in the lives of the entire family.After graduation from Maplewood High School in 1948, Doris embarked upon a self-directed adventure to Concordia College, River Forest, Illinois to prepare as a parochial schoolteacher.�The only of the eight girls to go off to college, she demonstrated a resolute commitment to the goal that would characterize her entire life.After a successful college career, Doris continued to demonstrate her adventurous nature by moving to Tracy, California, where she taught at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School.�After moving to Zion Lutheran School in San Francisco, California, she met her future husband, Walter Collison.�After marriage in 1956 they moved to San Jose, California where Walt was employed by IBM.�Their union was blessed with five children: Margaret "Maggie", Elizabeth "Liz", Mark, James "Jim", and John.Staying home from the classroom to raise her children and care for the household, Doris did not remain idle.�She, through her energies and enthusiasm, brought her gregarious attitude to a variety of volunteer opportunities.�She and Walt were charter members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Los Gatos, California, and were active there until they moved to Montana in retirement.�Doris was regularly active in 4-H, participating in the livestock, sewing, and cooking programs with her children and providing leadership to many others.�The family was even named "Santa Clara County Fair" family of the year in 1980.�Doris was also involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind based in San Rafael, California.After moving to Montana, Doris provided leadership in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, serving in both zone and district offices.�Her involvement at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell, Montana was dependable and longstanding.�It only ended with their move to Colorado Springs, Colorado.In Colorado Springs, Doris was very involved at Immanuel Lutheran Church, a church family for which she had great affection.�She and Walt moved into an independent retirement community in Brookdale where they were both active.�Doris was known and appreciated by all who met her in the village.�She was a "one-person welcoming committee" and enjoyed providing service as building monitor, on the resident oversight committee and running the Thrift Store.Active and mentally alert to the very end, Doris was always eager to engage in discussion, often (usually) quite lively, and was never reticent with her informed opinion.Doris had three great loves in her life:� her family, which included eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; her church, and the community in which she lived.�Underlying this all was her great love for her Lord Jesus Christ, always in thankful appreciation for his redemption.�She lived and died in confident faith. Her family has no doubt about seeing her again in heaven's glory.She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; parents Emry and Sophia; sisters, Shirley, Edith, Gerry, Margarite, Carol and Helen; and brothers, Emry and Frank.Doris is survived by her children, Margaret (Steve) Springer, Elizabeth (Mike) Warmbier, Mark (Wendy) Collison, James (Sarah) Collison, and John (Monica) Collison; and sister, Emerald Schoepp. Celebration of Life, 11:00AM, Saturday, June 18, 2022, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 846 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Private family burial will be in August in Montana. Events Celebration of Life Saturday, June 18, 2022 11:00AM Immanuel Lutheran Church 846 E. Pikes Peak Avenue Colorado Springs, CO Phone: 719-328-1793