Obituary : Jean A. Collison
Jean Ann Collison, born December 28, 1940, in Edgartown, died on September 18 in New Bern, N.C. Ms. Collison received her associate degree in nursing from Massasoit Community College and worked as a registered nurse in emergency care, eventually overseeing the creation and implementation of a coordinated emergency management system for the Cape and Islands EMS District in Massachusetts.
Ms. Collison met her husband of 41 years, Curtis Lee Collison Jr., on Martha's Vineyard where he was her sailing instructor. The family lived on Martha's Vineyard for several years where she worked and volunteered at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. In July, she attended her 50th reunion for the class of 1959 at Edgartown High School.
Retiring to New Bern, N.C., she became an active member in the community. Ms. Collison was a member of both the Questers and the New Bern Women's Club, serving on the board of each organization. With Questers, she led the Cedar Grove cemetery restoration project and hosted many fundraising luncheons at her home. With the New Bern Women's Club, she spearheaded the Tea with Talbots and chaired many Holly and Ivy Tours.
Ms. Collison was predeceased by her husband, Curtis Lee Collison Jr., her mother, Clara Brown, and her father, William Brown. She is survived by her son, Curtis Lee Collison III and grandson Curtis Collison IV, both of Sunrise, Fla.; twin sons Eric of Rockville, Md., and Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Jessica of Alexandria, Va.; her sister Sandra and brother-in-law Dennis Arnold of Edgartown; her brother James and sister-in-law Linda of Windsor, Maine; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Visitation was held Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern, N.C. The funeral will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 11 am at Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, where Ms. Collison was a member.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to either Questers or New Bern Women's Club. Questers donations should be made payable to Questers Earl of Craven and sent to Gretchen Carroll, 211 King St., New Bern, NC 28560. New Bern Women's Club donations should be made payable and sent to New Bern Women's Club, P.O. Box 308, New Bern, NC 28563.
Arrangements were made by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory.
