Elinor McCollister, who loved to be called “Meemom” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, departed her loving family on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 1 to 3 at Colbert Memorial Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, AL. The funeral service will immediately follow in the chapel with Chip Henley officiating. Interment will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Elinor Quay Crowder was born January 1, 1940, in Itawamba County, Mississippi along with her twin brother, Eldridge Clay to William Marvin Crowder and Mary Wilson Crowder. She grew up in rural Mississippi with four sisters and two brothers.
As a young person she worked in the fields along with her entire family. She attended school at Fairview in Golden, Mississippi. Afterwards, she began working in a local factory in the area. She married Bill McCollister and moved to Russellville, Alabama. They moved to Illinois for a brief time before moving to Tuscumbia and finally making their home in Muscle Shoals. Elinor was mother to Ricky, Jeff, and Pam. She was a homemaker for many years raising her children with love and devotion. She began working later in life at Gracie’s Cakes and Catering, then several years at Jitney Jungle Grocery store, and then retired at Wal-Mart after 25 years. She stayed home a couple of years after retirement; at the age of 82 she went back to work part time at Chick-Fil-A. Elinor was always a people person and met everyone with a smile. She often spoke of missing work because of the customers she had come to know over the years. She loved Christmas and having family over on Christmas Eve for games, fun, and a traditional steak dinner.
Elinor was preceded in death by sisters, Audrey Watts, Willard Brown, Wilma Funderburk, and Verlon Culver; brothers, W.T. Crowder, Doyle Ray Crowder, and twin brother Eldridge Crowder.
She is survived by her children, Ricky McCollister (Tammy), Jeff McCollister (Heather), and Pam Rutland (Darryl); grandchildren, Matthew McCollister (Kelsey Beth), Macy Kreitz (Naden), Kyle McCollister (Alia), John Michael McCollister (Kate), and Blake McCollister; great-grandchildren, Elsey Sue, Coye Holland, Josie Rae and Jackson Wallace McCollister; sister-in-law, Elois Crowder; and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Matthew McCollister, Kyle McCollister, John Michael McCollister, and Blake McCollister, Naden Kreitz.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elinor’s memory to South Highland Church or St. Judes Children’s Hospital.
