Paul Edward Collier, 68, of Westminster, Vermont passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, September 15 after a courageous battle with Alzheimers.

Born on March 28, 1958, in New Haven, Connecticut to parents Donald “Pete” Collier and Edith (Boyles) Collier. Paul was raised in Seymour, Connecticut and attended Emmett O’Brien Regional Vocational Technical High School graduating in 1976 with a focus on Carpentry.

In 1981, Paul relocated to Westminster, Vermont where he worked at both Springfield Fence Co. and as an EMT at LeFevre Ambulance. He then jumpstarted his career with employment at Fellows Gear Shaper where he discovered his love of machine tool sharpening. He later became the owner of The Cutter Shop in Springfield, Vermont where he not only ground a variety of different tools, but he worked with Burton Snowboards designing tooling used to make a prototype for the first models of Burton Snowboards. He was also proud to have both designed and created an intricate part for the Space Station that is currently still in use. He was incredibly reliable, skilled and knowledgeable, the talent he brought to his skilled craft was unmatched.

In 1989, he married Debra (Perry) Collier in Bellows Falls, Vermont, sharing 37 years of marriage.

He was known for having a deep love of building and flying model airplanes, snowmobiling, riding his motorcycle, long bicycle rides, completing both Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles, carpentry and fixing anything and everything that was broken, camping with family in the summer, remodeling his home (except the kitchen) and refurbishing old tractors.

Paul is preceded in death by his father, Donald “Pete” Collier, and father-in-law, William “Bill” Perry Sr. and brother-in-law, William R. Perry Jr.

He will be deeply missed by his surviving family, including:
wife, Debra (Perry) Collier, his three children, two sons, Thomas Collier & Christopher Dryden and daughter, Jennifer (Collier) Washburn & husband, Phillip Washburn. His two grandsons, Adam & Ethan Collier, and three granddaughters, Mia, Brooke & Kaylee Washburn. His mother, Edith (Boyles) Collier, mother-in-law, Alice (Trombley) Perry, as well as three siblings, Beth & Ron Schmecker, Donald and Kathy Collier, and Deborah and Mark Vinsen.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, September 23 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

A Funeral will be held Thursday, September 24 at 11:00 AM at The First Congregational Church of Westminster, 3470 US-5, Westminster, Vermont 05158.

Service will be followed by burial at Westminster New Cemetery and A Celebration of life at First Congregational Church of Westminster.

Donations in Lieu of flowers made to: Westminster Animal Hospital, Attention: Caring Paws Fund, 5052 US-5, Westminster, Vermont 05158.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.