The Downey Patriot

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Richard Collier

March 2, 1962 - June 13, 2019

Richard Lee Collier was born in Huntington Park, California to parents Mitchell Lee Collier and Betty Doyel Collier. Rick grew up and lived all of his youth in Downey, California, where he participated in football, basketball, and baseball with the Downey Junior Athletic Association, and also enjoyed camping and other activities as a member of the Y.M.C.A. Indian Guides organization. Rick spent the entirety of his school years in the Downey Unified School District, where he graduated from Warren High School in 1980.

Rick got his start in the full time working world as a warehouse clerk. After moving to Arizona Rick held many different occupations, including retail clerk, water well roughneck, construction, and carpenter. He also spent time as a ranch hand, doing everything from caring for alpacas to riding herd on cattle drives. Rick dabbled as a welding hobbyist, using scrap iron to create ornamental pieces that he gave to his family and friends. In recent years, Rick enjoyed daily games of chess, horseshoes, dominoes, and cards with a regular group of his friends.

Rick is survived by his father Mitchell Collier of Downey California, sister Kellie Collier of Pleasanton California, niece Lyndsey Collier of Pleasanton California, as well as many aunts and cousins. Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Collier. Rick will return home to his final resting place to enjoy the waves along the California coast, where he loved to surf and camp as a young man.