Hope Christine McCollum's Obituary
Hope Christine McCollum, a cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Broken Arrow at the age of 89.
Born on December 25, 1934, near Haskell, Hope was the beloved daughter of Frank and Marie (Pitchford) Rombach. She excelled academically, becoming the valedictorian of her Haskell High School Class of 1953. Shortly after graduation, on September 2, 1953, she married the love of her life, Willis McCollum.
Hope was a talented seamstress, known for crafting beautiful wedding dresses for Barbie dolls. Her green thumb was legendary, nurturing around 100 plants at one time, most of which were derived from cuttings of crepe myrtles, pecan trees, and her favorite pink roses. Pink was a color she cherished deeply.
A devoted member of Riverview Baptist Church in Bixby, Hope taught Sunday School for many years, instilling her love of God and family in those she taught. She found joy in sharing stories about her large family, having grown up on a farm with eight siblings—six sisters and two brothers.
Hope's nurturing spirit extended beyond her family. She worked at Playland Daycare for nearly a decade and later at the Ava Maria House for Saint Francis, a nursery for the children of health system employees. Her dedication to creating detailed lesson plans and singing songs for the children highlighted her enduring love for them.
Hope is survived by her children: Vicki Finton and her husband, James; Scott McCollum and his wife, Stephanie; Joy Justus; and Gay Foster and her husband, Michael. She leaves behind ten grandchildren: Cherish, Chelsea, Tara, Whitney, Tim, Victoria, Matthew, Randall, Melody, and Amanda; and eight great-grandchildren: Jude, Indigo, Shayne, Ryder, Sagan, Lillian, Gage, and Connor. Hope was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie; her beloved husband, Willis; all of her siblings; son-in-law, Tim Justus, Sr.; and great grandson, Ryan McCollum.
A memorial service to honor Hope's life will be held at 11 AM on Friday, July 12, 2024, in the Rivercrest Chapel. Interment will be private in the Haskell Cemetery.
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