David Jerry Collier, 71, of Plymouth, died on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born on February 18, 1953, in Norwich, Jerry was a son of Robert and Eleanor (Wilkes) Collier. He graduated from Sherburne-Earlville in 1971 and then attended SUNY Morrisville. He later earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta. Over the years, Jerry worked for the Norwich Shoe Company, Lewis Engineering, Modular Automation, P&G Pharmaceuticals, Golden Age Apartments, and Sherwin-Williams. He took great pride in his recent appointment to the Plymouth Town Board.
Jerry enjoyed starting conversations with new people and forging friendships. He loved to tinker on various forms of machinery and get it working again. Jerry spent a great amount of his time outdoors working on various projects. He thoroughly enjoyed working with children as a substitute teacher and coach of little league, soccer, and Odyssey of the Mind. Jerry always wanted to teach middle school aged kids and always loved seeing the world through their eyes. He was a loving man, always surrounded by people who loved him in return. Jerry especially loved his family, getting the most joy from being “Papa”.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia (Hover) Collier; son Christopher Collier and wife, Nicole and their daughter Emma; son Nicholas Collier; and daughter Amanda Collier and her spouse Jack Schieferstein and his two children. Jerry is also survived by his brother Charles Collier and wife Judi, his sister Barbara Redenback, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents, his brother Robert Collier, and his brother-in-law Dennis Redenback.
Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home, in Norwich, on Friday, August 30, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with a memorial service to immediately follow.
Contributions in Jerry’s memory may be made to mothersofveteransuicide.org or feedourvets.org.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to John Antonowicz of the Wilson Funeral Home. To leave the family a message of sympathy, please visit: www.wilsonfh.com.