Mildred McCollum, 94, a longtime resident of Aberdeen, passed peacefully in her sleep on July 24, 2024 in Lacey, Washington. She had recently resided in an adult dementia care home the last couple of years.

Mildred was born February 3, 1930 in Alma Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin to Lola (Tennant) and John Matuska. She had two sisters, Lucille (Robert) Bixler and Lois (Wayne) Clifford and one brother, Jack (Jolene) Matuska; all preceded her in death.

As a young girl the family moved west from Wisconsin to Washington state. Mildred resided in Aberdeen for the majority of her life. She attended Weatherwax High School but did not finish her high school degree. She married Lawrence McCollum on February 3, 1949. They were married 54 years until Lawrence’s death from congestive heart failure exacerbated by diabetes in April, 2003.

Mildred is survived by a daughter, Sherry Hammel of Matlock, and a son, Lawrence Jr., Lompoc FCI, California. Her youngest daughter Elaine preceded her in death in 1991, the victim of vehicle homicide. Her eldest son Dale also preceded her in death in 2016 from metastasized lung cancer. Mildred is survived by two granddaughters, Jennifer Hammel (Levi North) of Matlock, and Selena Hammel (Jacob) Nauman of McCleary and one grandson, Brian Dale McCollum. She is also survived by her great-granddaughter, Natalie Hammel-North of Matlock. At her request there will be no funeral.