Jason Thomas Collie, Jr.

Jason Thomas Collie, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, at the age of 90 in the midst of the Cary snowstorm. He was a gentle man of strong principles and a quiet leader who was well-respected by his family, church members, neighbors, former colleagues and military personnel who served with him as well as under his leadership. He exemplified patience, humility, responsibility, and integrity throughout his interactions. He was a generous community member who absolutely loved sharing his nutritious homegrown vegetables and fruits with others. He engaged in his gardening, home renovation, and reupholstering endeavors with the love of his life, Betty, by his side for almost 70 years. He maintained an active life until the debilitating effects of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's no longer allowed his avid gardening to continue. Admirably, he embraced the power of positive thinking and even while dealing with recent illness he maintained his kind and sweet nature.

Growing up, Jason enjoyed fishing, hunting, swimming, and playing sports. He raised tobacco to help fund his collegiate studies. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Jason graduated from North Carolina State College and worked as an industrial engineer at Western Electric/AT&T in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Burlington nearly four decades. He served in the US Army out of college and later with North Carolina Army National Guard for a total of 28 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was a lifelong member of The United Methodist Church.

Jason's family learned many life skills from him. He showed them how to enjoy life through physical activity, the passionate pursuit of a hobby, the pleasure of discovery, and the value of extended study. He was an active parent when he was not at work, either teaching his children and neighbors gardening skills, basketball, football, or baseball skills, or car/home care. He showed his children how to play cards, with his favorite game being Hearts. In his later years, he commented that the accomplishment he was most proud of was raising his children to be who they are.

Jason took his family camping, fishing, frog gigging, swimming, and on many a roadtrip. Calm parenting in a station wagon with four teenagers can be challenging, but his children have fond memories of learning map reading and navigational skills, listening to music, attending Major League Baseball games, enjoying amusement parks, exploring educational roadside attractions, learning how to efficiently pitch a canvas tent before the advent of lightweight collapsible poles, and savoring chocolates on cross-country travels.

Jason taught his family the satisfaction of strengthening athletic skills. Even though he initially wanted to have a whole baseball team of children, he settled for being his son's coach and manager with at least one of his daughters tagging along to learn and help. He could often be found in the evenings playing baseball with his children and their friends.

Having grown up on a farm, Jason knew the hard work required for growing everything you needed to thrive and survive. He poured over the seed catalogs in the winter and drafted out his intended garden design, so he could order the correct seeds to plant. He lived hopefully anticipating springtime and the start of a new growing season. He grew enough blueberries to eat on his cereal every day as well as share with family and friends.

Jason helped all of his children with their developing understanding of mathematics. He assisted them before the time of scientific calculators when slide rulers were still in use. He taught them physics, geography, and all of the state capitals.

His family extends heartfelt thanks to Sunrise of Cary Senior Living staff for the loving care provided over the past nine months and Transitions Hospice Care for the last two weeks.

A celebration of life service will be held at Ruffin United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or a donation to The Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Jason was beloved as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be missed dearly. He is survived by: his wife, Betty Cox Collie; daughters, Sandra Jolly (Steve), Cynthia Rohm (Ryan), and Amanda Heinemann (Jack); sister, Joyce Lindberg; grandchildren, Thomas Maldonado (Jelena), Jennifer Murillo (Luis), Megan Guzman (Victor), Caroline Rohm (Phill Melton), Andrew Rohm (Laura), Amy Heinemann, Jenni Nordaby (Rich); great-grandchildren, Mika Maldonado, Jason Maldonado, Malakhi Maldonado, Sofia Murillo, Jacob Murillo, Maxi Murillo, Ayden Guzman, Ellie Guzman, Richard Nordaby; and many cousins and other extended family.

He is predeceased by his parents, Jason and Dorothy Barker Collie; and his son, Jason Thomas Collie, III.


Donations:

Give.MichaelJFox.org
The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
PO Box 5014
Hagerstown, MD 21741

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com