Gwendolyn Collier

Gwen Collier, born Gwendolyn Nell Washburn on March 2, 1944 to Odell and Travis Washburn, passed away at her home in San Antonio, Monday, April 29th.

Gwen was born in Beaumont, Texas and moved to Pelly as a young girl with her parents.  Growing up, she attended Baptist Temple in Pelly which later moved to 6000 Sjolander Rd. Gwen was a 1960 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown.

Gwen married Jerry Collier in February 1963 and had two boys; one of which passed at birth.

In 1975, Gwen and her family moved to Old River-Winfree where she raised her son and lived for over 33 years. She later followed her son to San Antonio after her mother passed in October 2005. In 2020, Gwen was diagnosed with Dementia; Alzheimer’s along with other medical challenges. In March 2022, Gwen moved to an independent living apartment in San Antonio and April 2023 to assisted living. She passed peacefully in her home after a sudden medical event.

Gwen worked at Lyondell Petrochemical, starting in the mail room in 1970, then on to various administrative tasks, until her retirement as Engineering secretary in 1998.

Gwen was preceded in death by her infant son in December 1963, her father Travis Washburn in January 1995, mother Odell Redden-Washburn October 2005 and brother Travis Lavone Washburn in June 2020. Gwen had a love and passion for animals and was preceded in death by her Chihuahua Tinker, her Sorrell Gelding Sandy, her Welsh Corgi Sophie, and Chihuahuas Stable and Queenie.

Gwen is survived by her son J. Don Collier (whom she called Donnie), grandson James Michael Collier and Jamie Lopez all from San Antonio as well as several nieces and nephews surrounding the Baytown and Conroe areas.

Special recognition for friends that visited and aided in Gwen’s quality of life in her final years: Bethel Ford was Gwen’s neighbor at Sodalis Assisted Living who visited her daily and took her breakfast when Donnie was unable. Janie Lopez for her visits and inviting her to family holidays and helping whenever she was needed. Wendee Kerr, Sherri Dunn and Ashlee McKenna for helping Gwen move from her home and later from one apartment to another.

The family will be having a private service and burial in Baytown. There will be no service in
San Antonio. Please Pray for the family as they adjust to her transition to Heaven. If you wish to send flowers and/or cards, they can be delivered to Franklin Funeral Home, 914 3rd Street, Floresville, Texas 78114. Flowers received by Tuesday, May 7th at 12:00 p.m., will be transported to the private service and plants returned to the family. Franklin Funeral Home in Floresville is coordinating Gwen’s physical transition to her final resting place in Memory Gardens in Baytown.