Bobby L. Collier

Bobby L. Collier, age 72, of Kingston passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at U.T. Hospital. He was retired from Bechtel Jacobs after a 30-year career at the Oak Ridge facilities. He was a member of Kingston First Baptist Church where he served as an usher and worked with the meals delivery program. He was an Air Force Veteran and a graduate of Tennessee Technological University. He served on the Roane County Commission for 17 years, representing the 6th District, where he also served as president of the Tennessee County Services Association, the statewide organization of commissioners, county mayors and county executives, and county road supervisors. He was heavily involved in his community where he served as president of the Kingston Babe Ruth League; Cherokee Middle School Booster Club where he was instrumental in starting the middle school football program; Kingston Yellow Jacket Century Club, where he was instrumental in construction of the Roane County High School Field House and Weight Room; Kingston Jaycees (state president of the year); Tennessee Jaycees International; American Society of Safety Engineers; Leadership Roane County where he recently received the Paul Goldberg Leadership Award; member of American Legion Post 110; member of Masonic Lodge Union 38, Scottish Rite of Knoxville, and Shriner Temple of Knoxville. Through his involvement with the Jaycees, he founded the Operation REACH (Roane Enriches Another Child’s Holiday) Program of which he was very proud. This program uses donations and volunteers to provide funds to allow needy children to shop for Christmas gifts for family members and themselves. Bobby was a loving son, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather (Pops), brother, uncle, and a dear friend to all who knew him. He was loved and will be missed. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert L. Collier and mother, Willie Mae Patterson Collier. He is survived by wife, Peggy Eggert Collier; son, Robert L. Collier II and wife, Shelley and four granddaughters, Katie, Sydney, Casey, and Britney of Knoxville; sisters, Carolyn Granger and Linda Townsend of Kingston; nephew, Ryan Townsend, of Kingston; and niece, Buffie Fletcher, of Chattanooga. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, at Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston. The service will follow at 7:30 p.m. with Rev. Gary Alley and Rev. Jody McLoud officiating. Followed by a Masonic Memorial Service conducted by Union Lodge #38 F. & A.M. The burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 5, at Kingston Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Operation REACH, P. O. Box 981, Kingston, TN 37763 or First Baptist Church Building Fund, 215 N. Kentucky Street, Kingston, TN 37763-2742.

Bobby L. Collier

May 19, 1943 - September 30, 2015