COLLIE, GEORGE O., was born on Hardin Creek, Hardin County, Tennessee 18 Jan 1892. He 
was the son of Hester JOHNSON and David T. COLLIE. He had one sister, Martha (Mrs. Hundley GRIMES), and three brothers: Walter, Max and Montie. Max and Montie were twins. George was educated in the rural schools of Hardin County.
In May 1917, George married Lena WILBANKS, and they lived on the Collie farm in Hardin County. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1917. He served with the 117th Infantry, 30th Division serving in France and Germany. He was in France on 11 Nov 1918, when the Armistice with Germany was signed. His brother, Max, was with the 82nd Engineers also serving in France and Germany. They both returned home in January 1919.
After returning home from the war, Max moved to St.Louis, Missouri. He was in the construction business until he retired and moved to Arkansas. George returned to Hardin County, but soon moved to Wayne County settling in Clifton around 1926 with his wife and four children.
George COLLIE was the father of three sons: David, Joe and Montie, and one daughter: Mildred. The family moved to Clifton about 1926 when David was old enough to enroll in the public school. All four children attended school in Clifton (now Frank Hughes School). Although George did not talk very much about his military service during World War I, he often related to his grandchildren how his three sons served their country in World War II.
David COLLIE, b. 22 April 1920, enlisted in the Army Air Force serving from 1941 to 1944 in the 9th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group, 67th Squadron. He was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator. During an air raid on the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania, David’s plane was shot down. For David’s heroic accomplishments during World War II he was decorated nine times. He was a disabled veteran and died in December 1982 in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee. He was the father of five children: David Jr., Steve, Mark, Jonathan and Brenda.
Joe E. COLLIE, born 19 Dec 1923, second eldest son of George COLLIE, served in the U.S. Army with the 20th Armored Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served from 1943 to 1946, and fought in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Austria. At the end of his military service, Joe held the rank of sergeant. After World War II, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife, Chris, reside in Pleasant View, Tennessee
Montie COLLIE, b. 23 May 1925, was the youngest of the COLLIE boys, and he joined the U.S. Navy in January 1943. He served as a Medic on the aircraft carrier USS Independence in the South Pacific for 22 years. He recalled how the crew had been on the “Independence” for one month when the Japanese torpedoed them.
Montie re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 to serve in the Korean War. He was medically retired in 1951. He lives in Florence, Alabama and is a contract painter. He has one son, Montie COLLIE, Jr.
George O. COLLIE’s only daughter, Mildred, born 9 Oct 1921, graduated from Clifton High School and moved to Nashville. She was married to Guymon NORTHCUTT who was active in defense work during World War II installing radar equipment in bombers at Warner Robbins, Georgia. Guymon and Mildred lived in Waynesboro until his death. Mildred then moved to Florence, Alabama. She now resides in Birmingham, Alabama and has four children: Mike, Sandra Jo, Phyllis and Deeanna.
George COLLIE was a master carpenter, and he will be remembered by many for his expert carpentry in buildings and homes in Clifton and Hardin County. He was a talented musician, accomplished in playing the organ, piano and violin. He spent most of his life in Clifton, a town and people he loved dearly. Besides his military years, the only years he left Clifton was for a period of years he traveled the Northwest. This was a period of his life that was quite sad because he left his family. When he returned his oldest son was 25 years old and had just married.
At the age of 57, George COLLIE married Bess RUSSELL from Hardin County. They lived in Clifton until his death on 9 Nov 1972 at Harbert Hills Nursing Home. He was buried at Russell’s Chapel in Hardin County.
Besides his children, George O. COLLIE left a legacy of 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was very proud of these children and they knew him as “Pa Collie”.
George O. COLLIE’s grandchildren are David T. COLLIE Jr., who served in Vietnam, US Air Force and is now boy’s basketball coach at East Robertson High School, Cross Plains, Tennessee. Steve COLLIE, retired from the US Air Force, and Brenda COLLIE ROSE, married to Clark ROSE and living in Savannah, Tennessee. George Mark COLLIE, now a MCA recording artist and songwriter. He has entertained in concerts and USO shows all over the world. On 12 Nov 1990, he entertained approximately 4,000 military personnel at a Veteran’s Day Rally at Opryland Hotel. Mark wrote and recorded a song in tribute to Veterans, “Another Old Soldier”. Jonathan COLLIE served in the US Army for three years as a member of the 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles) at Fort Campbell, KY. He now resides in Columbia, Tennessee and is employed with Barr Motor Company. These are the children of David COLLIE.
Mike NORTHCUTT is self-employed and lives in Birmingham, AL. Sandra Jo GIBB lives in Alexandria, VA. Her husband, Thomas GIBB, is currently serving in the US Navy with the rank of Commander. Phyllis LONG lives in Birmingham, AL and works for an insurance company. Deanna DUDA lives in Atlanta, GA. These are the children of Mildred COLLIE NORTHCUTT HARRELL.
Montie COLLIE, Jr. lives in Texas.