Gary Dale Collier, 74

Gary Dale Collier, 74, of North Port, Florida, went to meet his Lord and Savior on July 4, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. He was born July 5, 1951 in Barberton, Ohio to Richard Harrison Collier and Alice Ruth (Jones) Collier. He was a loving friend, husband, father and grandfather and most of all, servant of God.

Gary was a 1969 graduate of Kenmore High School and a 1974 graduate of the University of Akron. He also graduated from the University of Texas Pan American with a master’s degree.

Gary taught music at Hoban High, Norton Middle School and several schools in Broward County, Florida. In 2017, he retired from teaching at Crystal Lake Middle School in Broward County, Florida. He served as Director of Music at Community Church of Portage Lakes for 14 years before taking his family as missionaries to Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas where he served as Head of the Music Department and as a Spanish language teacher. He was a member of Plantation Baptist Church in Plantation, Florida for many years where he served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and VBS director as well as helping in other areas. Upon moving to Ohio, he was a member of First Baptist Church in Barberton, Ohio where he served as Choir Director.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebekah Dawn (Collier) Dennis. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patty and daughters Ruth Prebynski (Josh) and Heather Collier; grandchildren, Andrew Bernstein, Jackson Bernstein and Austin Prebynski.

We will celebrate Gary’s life with a memorial service to be held in early August at Plantation Baptist Church in Plantation, Florida and another in November at First Baptist Church in Barberton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Plantation Baptist Church Building Fund in memory of Gary Collier.