Colleen McCall

Colleen Crawford McCall passed away peacefully on November 27, 2023 with her beloved husband and daughters at her side after a short illness.

Colleen was born in Fayetteville, TN on July 2, 1937. She graduated from Chattanooga City High School in 1955, attended Maryville College and graduated from UT Knoxville in 1959 with a degree in Elementary Education.

Colleen began singing at the age of 12 and never stopped. Her beautiful voice reached countless ears at church worship services, prison ministries, meetings, Chattanooga Prayer Breakfasts, weddings and funerals. As a soloist, small group or choir member, Colleen sang for retirement homes, Civic Groups, Political rallies, sporting events, Glee Club, Kiwanis meetings and performed the National Anthem for the Signal Mountain 4th of July Celebration for over 40 years.

Mrs. McCall taught elementary school (2nd grade) for 30 years, retiring in 1998. She received many honors during her teaching career including Career Ladder III, WDEF Golden Apple award, PTA Life Membership, Delta Kappa Gamma Teaching Society member and was named Hamilton County Teacher of the Year in 1995.

In the community, Colleen was involved in The Chattanooga Symphony Guild, Girl Scouts of America Leader, Gideon International, Girl's Cotillion Club, Signal Mountain Playhouse (Founding Board Member), the Garden Club of Signal Mountain (Life Member) and three bridge groups.

At church, Colleen was a member of the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church choir beginning in 1964. At SMPC she was a also active in Night Owls, Prayer Warriors, Circle, the Worship Committee, a Sunday School Teacher, the Day School Board and the Columbarium Committee and was named 1994 Women of the Year.

Colleen met her true love, James E. McCall, while at Maryville College. They married in 1959. She was faithful and diligent in all the organizations in which she took part, and often assumed leadership positions. She loved the Lord and her family with all her heart and was devotedly proud of her husband Jim and her girls, Jennifer and Meg. She took great pleasure in teaching, singing, entertaining, walking, laughing and enjoying all of God's gifts. Colleen drew upon her abiding faith to minister to so many. Colleen kept a positive attitude, always had a smile to share and something encouraging or humorous to say. Colleen was loved by all who were fortunate to know her and most especially her family. She will remain in our hearts forever.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, James E. McCall; daughter Jennifer (Rob) Braun of Falmouth, KY; Meg (Phil) Howerton of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren Krista (Ryan) Dunlap, Robert (Lindsey) Braun, Philip Howerton IV and Marshall Howerton, and Great Grand Children William, Elliott and Matthew Dunlap. She is preceded in death by her parents Katherine and Walter Mitchell "Billy" Crawford and her brother Walter Mitchell Crawford III.

Special thanks are extended to the staff of Hospice of Chattanooga for outstanding care during her last days.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church with a visitation following at the church.

Colleen donated her body to UT College of Medicine for biomedical education and research so she could continue teaching.

If you wish to make a charitable donation, Colleen selected the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church music program, 612 James Boulevard, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, or Gideons International, P.O. Box 201, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, or Hospice of Chattanooga 2030 Hamilton Place Blvd, Suite 220 Chattanooga, TN 37421 or the charity of your choice.