May 5, 1929 - December 29, 2019

Donald Hogue McCollim, long-time Downey resident and avid reader of The Downey Patriot, passed away at age 90 in his home surrounded by family. For many years he valiantly struggled with congestive heart failure, but on December 29, 2019, it was his lungs that failed him.
Donald was born in Oxnard, CA, on May 5, 1929, the third of four siblings. During the Great Depression, his family lived at his grandmother’s ranch outside Ventura, CA, where as a young boy he loved playing in the open fields and eating the fresh fruit, corn and nuts on the ranch. His family eventually moved to Huntington Park, and he graduated from South Gate High School in 1947. After graduating, he worked as a filter operator at West End Chemical Company in Death Valley. He met his first love, a 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle, which he often rode out to the desert. The relationship was short-lived when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950 and had to sell the motorcycle (which he often lamented what it could be worth now). His younger brother, Lawrence McCollim, was already stationed in Korea during the war so Donald was sent to serve and protect in England and Germany. He was honorably discharged from the army in 1956 and returned home, where he began constructing roads, bridges and buildings as an ironworker. Over his long career, he built the frames of several skyscrapers and prominent buildings from San Diego to San Francisco, including the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles – at the time, the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River and one of his last projects before retiring. He was a member of the Reinforcing Ironworker’s Local Union #416 through retirement.
In his mid-20s, he met his second love: Mexico. Inspired by his older brother, Richard McCollim, he enjoyed countless road trips through Baja California and mainland Mexico, often spending months at a time living in Guadalajara. While in Mazatlan for his brother’s wedding, he met his wife-to-be, Nelly Guerrero of Guadalajara. They discovered that Donald had rented a room blocks away from Nelly’s family’s home and had been buying milk and eggs from Nelly’s mother’s store. Donald and Nelly were married in 1965 in Guadalajara, where they started their family. In 1969, they moved to Downey and raised their 4 daughters, all of whom attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help school.
Donald is survived by his sister, Jeanne Talbert, his wife, Nelly, his 4 daughters, Patricia McCollim, Suzan Etheridge, Janice Olea and Marlene McCollim, and 2 granddaughters, Madelyn and Kaitlyn. He is remembered for his gentle strength, genuine kindness, countless acts of selflessness and devotion to his family.