Claire McCollum

Claire V. McCollum, a longtime Pacific County resident died Wednesday, September 23, 2015 in Everett, WA; she was 87. Claire was born December 18, 1927 at Deep River, WA to Joel and Sophie Saima (Wirkkala) Sundquist. She graduated from Naselle High school in 1946. Claire married Wilbur “Tunny†McCollum June 5, 1946 the day after graduation at the Pacific County Courthouse in South Bend; he preceded her in death in 2008. Together they raised 4 children. She enjoyed being a homemaker, cooking and baking for the whole family, as well as an avid gardener. She was a Pacific County 4-H leader in the 1950’s and 60’s. She became supervisor and judge at the Pacific County Fair for the fruits and vegetables building and was also a W.S.U. Master Gardener earning her credentials in the mid 1970’s. She loved to teach others about plants and how to care for nature’s bounty. Claire was a member of the United Methodist Church. She loved to read and was quite the book enthusiast. Tunny and Claire were fortunate to have travelled and lived in many foreign countries following Tunny’s work for Weyerhaeuser. Claire is survived by her daughter Elizabeth McCollum of Lebam, sons Jerry McCollum of Palouse, WA and Bruce McCollum and his wife Mary of Vancouver, WA. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Claire was preceded in death by her husband “Tunny†and son Patrick “Lynn†McCollum. Memorial donations in Claire’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, Alzheimer’s Association at P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011 or the Raymond Ambulance Fund at 212 Commercial Street, Raymond, WA 98577. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 28, 2015 at Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond with burial services to follow at the Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo. Following burial there will be a gathering at the Lebam Community Church Fellowship Hall. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Claire McCollum please visit our Sympathy Store.