Curtis Lee Collison Jr. Was Active in Vineyard Groups

Curtis Lee Collison, Jr. born Feb. 3, 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island, died on Sept. 21 in New Bern, N.C.

Mr. Collison received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Syracuse University in 1961 where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He served in the US Coast Guard Reserve during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Mr. Collison met his wife of 41 years, Jean Ann, on Martha's Vineyard where he was her sailing instructor. The family lived on the Island for several years where he served as a Boy Scout leader, was active in Vineyard football, helped build the skating rink and served on Edgartown school committee.

Throughout Mr. Collison's professional career, he worked for many Fortune 500 companies including IBM and Honeywell. Mr. Collison retired in 1994 from Ocean Spray as the senior vice president of corporate services. At Ocean Spray, he was instrumental in the building of the corporate headquarters in Lakeville.

Retiring to New Bern, he became an active member in the community. Mr. Collison was a member of the board of New Bern preservation and the long-range strategic planning committee for the city of New Bern. He spearheaded both the future restoration of the New Bern Depot and the Union Point Gazebo Project.

Mr. Collison was predeceased by his mother, Svea Peterson Collison, and his sister, Sandra L. Collison. Survivors include his wife Jean Ann, of New Bern, his father, Curtis Lee Collison of Yarmouth, Me., his son, Curtis Collison 3rd, daughter in law Sheila, and grandson Curtis Collison 4th, all of Fayetteville, Ga.; his twin sons Eric and Jeffrey and daughter in aw, Jessica, all of Alexandria Va.; his sister Judy, and brother in law Peter Foss, both of Yarmouth, Me., and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cotton Funeral Home in New Bern. The funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, where Mr. Collison was a member.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to the Questers Adopt-a-Tree project in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern. Please make donations payable to the City of New Bern with notation that the funds are for the Cedar Grove Cemetery Questers Adopt-a-Tree Project. Donations should be sent to Gretchen Carroll, 211 King Street, New Bern, NC 28560.