Mrs. Helen Marie Collier Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mrs. Helen Marie Collier, age 71, passed away, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, July 8, 2021, at First United Methodist Church. Reverend Dr. Paul H. Mullikin and Reverend Lloyd Doyle will officiate with burial to follow at Willow Mount Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the church. Helen Marie Scales Collier was born on September 17, 1949, the youngest of six children to Walter Connell and Eula Bell Molder Scales. She attended Community School before graduating with honors from Shelbyville Central High School in 1967. Helen continued her education by attending Martin Junior College in Pulaski, TN. While at Martin, she asked a young man from Shelbyville named Kary Collier to a Sadie Hawkins dance and the two would be inseparable for the next 54 years. In 1971, Helen earned a Bachelor’s Degree from George Peabody College before she and Kary were married on August 22, thus beginning a four-year journey of being a military spouse. As a member of the USAF, Kary was posted at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, AL. It was while at Craig that Helen and Kary welcomed their first child, Kevin, into the world in 1973. Unfortunately, the USAF sent orders for Kary to report to Southeast Asia shortly after the arrival. For the last year of Kary’s service, Helen returned to Tennessee with Kevin to await Kary’s return and subsequent separation from the armed services. It would be the longest time they would ever spend apart. Upon Kary’s discharge, the two returned to their life together in Shelbyville where they were blessed with the addition of a second son, Bryan, in 1976. In the years that followed, Helen worked full-time for a local medical practice and later as the Membership Secretary and Business Manager of First United Methodist Church of Shelbyville, all while performing her most cherished and defining role as “Momma”. From being a Team Mom to a Den Mother, Helen was involved in her sons’ activities including baseball, football, and scouting. Honored by the Boy Scouts of America, she was awarded the Long Rifle Award as an outstanding volunteer for the Cub Scouts of Pack 390. As her boys grew, Helen was challenged with a debilitating disease which required numerous surgeries and several years of recovery. However, through it all, Helen persevered without complaint to return to her active role as “Mom”. She enjoyed hobbies such as bird watching, puzzles, and above all…. cooking. Not only did Helen provide meals for Kary, Kevin, and Bryan, but it was not uncommon for her “Famous Beef Stew”, chicken and rice, or hoagie sandwiches to be waiting to fill the bellies of any or all of her “#3 Sons” who would frequent her home. Known as “Meh-Meh” by her four grandchildren, Helen continued to love her family through the years while exhibiting the highest levels of faith and perseverance through her numerous health concerns and years of chronic pain. She was smart, kind, never afraid to express her razor-sharp wit, and without exception placed others’ needs before her own. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Connell and Eula Scales; her sister Isabelle Pewitt; her brother Alton Scales; her parents-in-law, J.C. and Orlene Collier; and two brothers-in-law, Earl Pewitt and William Heflin. She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Kary Collier; her two sons Kevin (Kristie) Collier and Bryan (Karri) Collier; four grandchildren, Jarrett (Kevin and Kristie), Morgan (Bryan and Karri), Jacey (Kevin and Kristie) and Drew (Bryan and Karri); two sisters, Connie King (F.Z.) and Nancy Heflin; one brother, Rodney Scales (Myrna); one sister-in-law, Lila Beasley (Butch); nieces and nephews, Brent (Laura) Pewitt, Sharon (Brad) Greer, Janet (Andy) Clarkson, Eric (Jennifer) Scales, Todd (Sarah) Scales, Melanie Scales, Robert (Patti) Heflin, Kelley Heflin, Karen (Chet) Maynard and two “adopted sons” Cade Ruehling and Mark Ford, who were very special to her. Helen would be honored with memorials made to First United Methodist Church, 122 Public Square North, Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160 Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family.

Mrs. Helen Marie Collier

September 17, 1949 - July 4, 2021