MCCOLLOM, CHARLES E. “MAC”

Mac died peacefully at home, July 30, 2017, at the age of 78 after a six-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. Born in Tennessee to Charlie and Mabel McCollom, he grew up in Paris, TN; Memphis, TN and New Orleans, LA.

Mac fell in love with Colorado after he was stationed at Lowry AFB in the early 1960s. Shortly after his wedding in June 1967 to Tica (Johnson) McCollom in New Orleans, they returned to Denver. He worked at Lowry in educational TV production and later as a Training Manager in Space Operations (associated with NASA) until his retirement in 1994.

Mac loved his family more than anything in the world, and we loved him back even more. He also loved cheering on his beloved Broncos, traveling, having heated political debates, listening to music (everything from Elvis to jazz to Amy Winehouse), eating almost anything his wife came up with, and being a gregarious and fun-loving husband, father, granddad and friend.  He was intelligent and loved a good laugh. He was a great hugger. He read the newspaper every day, end to end. He worked hard, loved hard, and we all knew he could lounge hard, too!! He never put up a false front – he was always honest and real. And he never, ever, met a stranger.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Tica; daughter, Shawna Kimble (Scott); son, Scott (Laura), and grandchildren, Alyssa and Talia Morgan and Dylan McCollom, as well as many, many friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at the family home on Saturday, August 19th at 4:30 p.m. Please join us with funny stories and favorite memories to share so we can laugh, cry and celebrate a life well lived to the very end. Donations can be made in his name to  the Planetary Society for space exploration projects (Bill Nye is the CEO) – Mac always felt space exploration was vital to help solve many of Earth’s problems both now and in the future.