Zila Viola Mccollam

Zila Viola McCollam, age 92, of Trenton and formerly of McCook and Culbertson, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 23, 2020 at the Community Hospital in McCook. She was born to Stanley Wayne and Nellie Mae (Seybold) Williams in rural Hitchcock County, Nebraska on June 27, 1927. She attended school in Trenton and was a lifelong resident of southwest Nebraska. On January 13, 1949 she married Owen McCollam at Wray, Colorado. The couple farmed in the Benkelman, Nebraska area for ten years before moving to a farm northwest of Culbertson. Zila kept busy helping Owen on the farm; no chore was beneath her and the couple worked together for many years before moving to McCook in 1973 where they lived for 26 years. In 1996 they returned to their farm near Culbertson. Zila spent her final years in the El Dorado Manor in Trenton due to failing health. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary of Culbertson and a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Zila enjoyed collecting things, especially dolls and teapots. Her potato salad was the hit of many holidays and family picnics and she closely guarded the recipe for much of her life, slowly revealing additional ingredients to her loved ones. Zila was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Owen, twin infant siblings and brother, Stanley Williams. Survivors include her daughter, Kyla (Ray) Cyr of Monterey, California; son, Doran (Cindy) McCollam of Culbertson; grandchildren, Wes McCollam of Palisade, Nebraska and Kaylee (Justin) Tracy of Wellfleet, Nebraska; two great-grandchildren: Owen and Maxton Tracy and a brother, Leo (Sheila) Williams of Oakley, Utah. Graveside services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at the Culbertson Cemetery in Culbertson with Pastor Alisha Parde officiating. No viewing; cremation was chosen. Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church in Culbertson. Friends may leave words of kindness at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements. Graveside Service Culbertson Cemetery Wednesday, July 1, 2020 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM US Highway 6 & 34 Culbertson, Nebraska 69024 Graveside Service Culbertson Cemetery Wednesday, July 1, 2020 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM US Highway 6 & 34 Culbertson, Nebraska 69024