Colleen Mary Walker

Born March 19, 1946, in Douglas, Wyoming, to Helen and Walter Murphy, Colleen grew up hunting jackrabbits for quarters from a mink farmer. She carried a lifelong pride in her western roots and spent time on her uncle’s ranch trailing cattle and sheep to their summer pastures, but found her true home in Marquette, where she settled in 1974, and became one of the city’s fiercest advocates. Colleen attended Northern Michigan University earning a BA and MSW, then worked for many years as a social worker with Head Start, providing essential support to young children and their families. She served on the Marquette City Zoning Board of Appeals, with the Women’s Center Domestic Violence Shelter, was president of the St Michael’s School board and was a devoted and decades-long member of Rotary, embracing community service with the same enthusiasm she brought to her adventures.

And she had plenty of those adventures. Colleen climbed in the Swiss Alps, scuba dived, and even ran a marathonäsomething she never stopped talking about, with well-earned pride. Her childhood hero was Audie Murphy, whose book To Hell and Back she cherished. She and her husband, Gary loved to travel; to Europe, England and sailing trips in the Caribbean. She had a creative soul with a love for painting, photography, quilting, and other crafts. Surely, the quilting industry will feel her loss as she was an avid collector and connoisseur of fabrics.

Colleen was chatty, quick to make friends, and often the first to welcome newcomers. She was a braggart in the best sense; proud of her loved ones, her friends, and her city. Her humor came through in favorite phrases like âWatch out for elephantsã and her offers of âCan I get you anything? Hot chocolate nut fudge sundae?ã

She is survived by her husband, Gary; her sons, Stephen (Ronda) and Michael Munkres; her stepsons, Geoff (Suma) and Mike (Christine) Walker; her sister, Shannon Murphy and her children Seth and Laura; and her grandchildren, Jackson and Henry.

A celebration of life will be held in late September in Marquette. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marquette Women’s Center or the Domestic Violence Shelter.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com