Cora Velma Collum

Cora Velma Markley Dean Collum was born in the territory of New Mexico and departed this life on March 30, 2013 at the age of 102 years, 2 months and 14 days. She was the daughter of the late Charles Conrad Markley and Maggie Lee Hawkins Markley. Velma was a dedicated servant to the Lord and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Lovington, New Mexico for more that 60 years. She served in many leadership capacities there and taught a Sunday School class there for many of those 60 years. She enjoyed church camp every year in the mountains of New Mexico. After moving to Puxico in 2004, she attended Egypt Church. She is survived by one son, Charles Collum of Bellville, Texas; one sister, Ann Crawford of Merced, California; six grandchildren, Jill Reasons of Puxico, Red Smith of Washington State, Mark Smith of Duncan, Oklahoma, Janice Hennington of Summertown, Tennessee, Jim Collum of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Rebecca Graham of Midland, Texas; 14 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. In addition, she is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, as well as her church family at Egypt Church. In 1928 she was united in marriage to Joe Dean. He preceded her in death in 1938. She was married to Stanley Collum in 1941, and he preceded her in death in 1993. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Betty Smith (formerly of Puxico) and an infant daughter, Joan Dean, one grandson Alan Bradley Smith and one great-granddaughter, Casey Jean Smith. Visitation will be held on Monday April 1, 2013, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday April 2, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Puxico, Missouri with the Rev. Wayne Burchett of Puxico, Missouri officiating. Interment will follow in the Puxico Cemetery in Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Mackenzie Smith Heart-Lung Transplant Fund, c/o First Midwest Bank, 141 E Richardson, Puxico, MO 63960