Marion Shirley (Smith) McCollester, 94, died peacefully in her sleep on January 16, 2023 after a period of declining health. She was born and raised in Leominster, MA where she married her husband, Robert E. McCollester, in 1947. They went on to live a long and adventurous life together during his career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
While they enjoyed most of his assignments together their favorite of all was the time spent stationed near Fairbanks AK during the 1960s. They retired originally to Niceville, FL in 1979 but moved to Three Rivers CA several years later. While Bob didn't have many years to enjoy his little ranchita in Three Rivers, Marion stayed there for 28 years until she moved closer to her daughters in Monterey CA. Her final year was spent in the familiar city of Carmichael close to where they had enjoyed many years entertaining Bob's flight crews around the backyard pool while he flew in SAC.
Marion loved food and everything about it - cooking food, eating food, talking about food, reading about food and leisurely strolls through every aisle in the commissary shopping for food! She was a fabulous hostess who left behind an incredible collection of cookbooks and recipes (with hostess notes).
Marion is survived by her children Elsbeth Stratton of Carmel Valley CA, Peter Mc- Collester (Dana) of Fort Walton Beach FL, and Margaret Dunn (Mike) of Monterey CA and Carmichael CA. Her son Michael McCollester (Sherrie) of Destin, FL died shortly after her death. She also leaves her five grandchildren Heather Stratton of Sacramento CA, Joseph Stratton ( Jackie) of Carmel Valley CA, Travis Chatters (Shauna) of Carmichael CA, Kelli Runge (Scott) of Carmichael CA and Molly McCollester of Dallas TX, and her five great-grandchildren Quincy, Penelope, Hope, Archie and Charlie. She is also survived by her sister Joan Cameron of Redmond WA and her son-in-law Terry Stratton of Carmel CA.
Her ashes will be inurned with Bob's in their niche at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.