Frances Micheller was born in Soroksan, Hungary on April 3, 1920 to Frank and Frances Micheller. When she was 7 they immigrated to Canada, settling in Northern Alberta where they took a homestead of 160 acres for $10.
On August 24, 1937 Frances married Roy Collier in Clyde, Alberta. They lived in Flatbush, Alberta until after the depression. In 1946 a young family with dreams of a better future heard of a new town forming in the West Kootenays called Howser. They decided to make the move with daughters Coriene and Carole. Roy worked in mining and logging before they decided to open a coffee shop and general store in Lardeau. Merle was born in 1955 in Kaslo. Later they moved to Greenwood and then to 100 Mile House, East Arrow Park, the Queen Charlotte Islands and finally in 1974 moved to Topley. Plants and Shrubbery were also relocated in tubs and buckets with each move.
When Roy moved to the Pines Care Home in 1998 Frances rented a seniors suite in Burns Lake. In 1999 Frances purchased a small house in Burns Lake so that she could once again have her own garden; she had her grandson Darwin plow up the front lawn and the Plant and Shrubbery were on the move again.
Frances and Roy lived in Topley for close to 25 years, they were quite active in the community and were Grandma and Grandpa to the majority of the young people in town.
Frances was predeceased by Roy, her husband of over sixty years on May 5, 2000. She is survived by three daughters, Coriene (Larry) Greenlaw, Carole (Don) Eftoda, Merle (Darrell) Dyck. Six Grandchildren, Ron Greenlaw and his son Colin, Dolores Greenlaw, Darwin (Glenda) Eftoda and their children Amber (Wade) Updahl, Logan Eftoda, Cailey (Rob) Hesse, Doug (Ruth) Eftoda and their children Travis & Arianne, Tyler Helsdon, his children Damien & Lexi, Dylan Helsdon and his son Julian and Julian's mother Starr Spangler (Dan Konkin) and their children Avery and Carson. She is also survived by 5 nieces in Washington State, and 2 in 100 Mile House.
Frances was laid to rest in the Topley Cemetery, next to Roy.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the B.L. Health Care Aux, Box 812, Burns Lake BC V0J 1E0.