John Raymond Collier, 83, of Berlin, passed away on June 26, 2016 at the CVMC in Berlin, VT. Born on Sept 11, 1932 to Roy James Collier and Josephine (Pelletier) Collier in Greensboro, VT. Attended 12 grades of school in the same building graduating GHS in 1950. Enlisted in US Air Force but had to wait till his 18th birthday to leave for Texas. Volunteered to go to Korea. Served in 5th Fighter Bomber Group in Korean War. Honorably discharged in 1954. Back to Vermont and joined New England Tel & Tel starting as a lineman, then an installer. Took all exams, required in those days, and became a PBX installer. In 1984, he joined AT&T, in 1987 retired and went to work the next 15 years at National Life Ins. handling their phone system. In Feb. 2004 he retired again after 49 yrs. 11 months as a telephone man at 71 1/2 yrs. of age. John married Eleanor Hill on June 21, 1958 and lived in Waterbury for 5 1/2 years. After saving some money, they bought land in Berlin and started building their house in 1963. He would work on it daily, after work, till 10 or 11 pm. and then drive back to the apartment in Waterbury. They moved into their new home Dec. 1963. About 30 years later, he started room by room re-doing everything…..wiring, plumbing, ceilings, floors, etc.. A brand new house again. Three sons were born……..Bret Raymond in 1962; Todd Andrew in 1966 and Ben Bentley in 1967. He enjoyed every minute of them. Nothing was more important to John than his marriage, his sons and his work. He was raised on a farm where farmers valued hard work. In early teens he often drove his father's milk truck route when he was not big enough to lift the 115 lb. full milk cans up onto the truck. During winters when farmers could not work outside, they would clean , grease and repair their machinery for the next season. No idle days then. John always said if something could be fixed, he could fix it. His philosophy of life was: "When a job is once begun, Never leave it till it's done. Be it great or be it small, Do it well or not at all." He took great pride in his two cedar hedges, his beautiful garden and his home. A wonderful man. LAUS DEO. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Howard, in 1981 and his sister-in -law, Beverly Hill, in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his sons, Bret and wife, Donna, of MN; son, Todd, of FL and son, Ben, of Burlington, VT. Also, two brother-in-laws, John Hill of Essex Center and David Hill of E. Hardwick as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. There will be no services or requests for donations. Our grateful thanks to Pastor Durham of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. Burial to be at the VT Veterans Cemetery in Randolph, VT.