John "Rucker" Collier, Jr., age 6, quietly passed away on the evening of October 29, 2020, surrounded by his mom, dad and little brother at their family home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
After more than two years of bravely battling Stage IV Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma ("SEF"), a rare soft tissue sarcoma, Rucker found his refuge under God's wings and is forever healed.
Rucker was born on June 9, 2014 to Katie and John Collier. Rucker loved and was cherished by his family, Vestavia Day School (his second home), and an enormous community of friends. He was a tenderhearted rule-follower by nature with a wicked sense of (mostly age appropriate) humor. He loved many genres of music and specialized in Michael Jackson laser light dance parties. He was an expert costume-wearer and opinionated dresser, from Batman and Ninja Turtles, to his shark tooth necklaces and cut-sleeve muscle shirts. Rucker proudly rode his bike without training wheels around Byrd Park and crowned his t-ball career with a head-first dive into home base. He was a patient and loving big brother to Charlie and a trusty and loyal companion to his best friend and "brousin" Biv. Rucker fought cancer with the bravery and resilience of a superhero, and the spirit, trust and innocence of a child. After countless surgeries, scans, chemo treatments, radiation procedures, pricks, pokes and tears, he always ended up smiling with two thumbs up, saying "that was easy peasy."
Rucker and his parents never stopped searching for the next best treatment to cure him. They traveled the country, from Children's Hospital of Alabama to Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hospital, all as Rucker lit up the lives of the doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other families he met along the way. Simply put, to know Rucker was to love him, and his vibrance and love was felt by all.
Rucker is survived by his parents, John and Katie, and his brother Charlie (4); his paternal grandparents, Clark and Phyllis Collier ("Cissy and Pops"); his maternal grandmother, Debbie Berkmeier ("GrandDeb"); his aunts, uncles, and cousins: Lauren Collier ("LaLa") and Chris Allen; Lindsey ("LuLu"), Landon, Madison (15), Collier (12) and John Taylor McLain (6); Will ("Uncle Will"), Ann ("Annie"), Biv (7), and Milly Berkmeier (5); and Maggie ("Aunt Mag"), Sam, Jimmy (5), and Max Dorsett (1).
Rucker is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, William H. Berkmeier ("Grandpa Bill"), and paternal great-grandmother, Mary Floyd McRae ("M").
A private service for immediate family will be held the morning of Friday, November 6th at the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Columbarium.
Due to travel limitations and social distancing requirements surrounding the current pandemic, the family wishes to delay Rucker's full celebration of life until the week of his 7th birthday in June of 2021. Therefore, a Children's Service will take place at Dick Kelly Park of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Rucker's friends are invited to attend and wear bright colors, sing some of his favorite songs, and give an uplifting farewell to their buddy. However, it is important to John and Katie that the children in Rucker's life get some comfort and closure by saying goodbye to their friend.
After more than two years of bravely battling Stage IV Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma ("SEF"), a rare soft tissue sarcoma, Rucker found his refuge under God's wings and is forever healed.
Rucker was born on June 9, 2014 to Katie and John Collier. Rucker loved and was cherished by his family, Vestavia Day School (his second home), and an enormous community of friends. He was a tenderhearted rule-follower by nature with a wicked sense of (mostly age appropriate) humor. He loved many genres of music and specialized in Michael Jackson laser light dance parties. He was an expert costume-wearer and opinionated dresser, from Batman and Ninja Turtles, to his shark tooth necklaces and cut-sleeve muscle shirts. Rucker proudly rode his bike without training wheels around Byrd Park and crowned his t-ball career with a head-first dive into home base. He was a patient and loving big brother to Charlie and a trusty and loyal companion to his best friend and "brousin" Biv. Rucker fought cancer with the bravery and resilience of a superhero, and the spirit, trust and innocence of a child. After countless surgeries, scans, chemo treatments, radiation procedures, pricks, pokes and tears, he always ended up smiling with two thumbs up, saying "that was easy peasy."
Rucker and his parents never stopped searching for the next best treatment to cure him. They traveled the country, from Children's Hospital of Alabama to Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hospital, all as Rucker lit up the lives of the doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other families he met along the way. Simply put, to know Rucker was to love him, and his vibrance and love was felt by all.
Rucker is survived by his parents, John and Katie, and his brother Charlie (4); his paternal grandparents, Clark and Phyllis Collier ("Cissy and Pops"); his maternal grandmother, Debbie Berkmeier ("GrandDeb"); his aunts, uncles, and cousins: Lauren Collier ("LaLa") and Chris Allen; Lindsey ("LuLu"), Landon, Madison (15), Collier (12) and John Taylor McLain (6); Will ("Uncle Will"), Ann ("Annie"), Biv (7), and Milly Berkmeier (5); and Maggie ("Aunt Mag"), Sam, Jimmy (5), and Max Dorsett (1).
Rucker is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, William H. Berkmeier ("Grandpa Bill"), and paternal great-grandmother, Mary Floyd McRae ("M").
A private service for immediate family will be held the morning of Friday, November 6th at the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Columbarium.
Due to travel limitations and social distancing requirements surrounding the current pandemic, the family wishes to delay Rucker's full celebration of life until the week of his 7th birthday in June of 2021. Therefore, a Children's Service will take place at Dick Kelly Park of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Rucker's friends are invited to attend and wear bright colors, sing some of his favorite songs, and give an uplifting farewell to their buddy. However, it is important to John and Katie that the children in Rucker's life get some comfort and closure by saying goodbye to their friend.
John "Rucker" Collier, Jr., age 6, quietly passed away on the evening of October 29, 2020, surrounded by his mom, dad and little brother at their family home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
After more than two years of bravely battling Stage IV Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma ("SEF"), a rare soft tissue sarcoma, Rucker found his refuge under God's wings and is forever healed.
Rucker was born on June 9, 2014 to Katie and John Collier. Rucker loved and was cherished by his family, Vestavia Day School (his second home), and an enormous community of friends. He was a tenderhearted rule-follower by nature with a wicked sense of (mostly age appropriate) humor. He loved many genres of music and specialized in Michael Jackson laser light dance parties. He was an expert costume-wearer and opinionated dresser, from Batman and Ninja Turtles, to his shark tooth necklaces and cut-sleeve muscle shirts. Rucker proudly rode his bike without training wheels around Byrd Park and crowned his t-ball career with a head-first dive into home base. He was a patient and loving big brother to Charlie and a trusty and loyal companion to his best friend and "brousin" Biv. Rucker fought cancer with the bravery and resilience of a superhero, and the spirit, trust and innocence of a child. After countless surgeries, scans, chemo treatments, radiation procedures, pricks, pokes and tears, he always ended up smiling with two thumbs up, saying "that was easy peasy."
Rucker and his parents never stopped searching for the next best treatment to cure him. They traveled the country, from Children's Hospital of Alabama to Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hospital, all as Rucker lit up the lives of the doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other families he met along the way. Simply put, to know Rucker was to love him, and his vibrance and love was felt by all.
Rucker is survived by his parents, John and Katie, and his brother Charlie (4); his paternal grandparents, Clark and Phyllis Collier ("Cissy and Pops"); his maternal grandmother, Debbie Berkmeier ("GrandDeb"); his aunts, uncles, and cousins: Lauren Collier ("LaLa") and Chris Allen; Lindsey ("LuLu"), Landon, Madison (15), Collier (12) and John Taylor McLain (6); Will ("Uncle Will"), Ann ("Annie"), Biv (7), and Milly Berkmeier (5); and Maggie ("Aunt Mag"), Sam, Jimmy (5), and Max Dorsett (1).
Rucker is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, William H. Berkmeier ("Grandpa Bill"), and paternal great-grandmother, Mary Floyd McRae ("M").
A private service for immediate family will be held the morning of Friday, November 6th at the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Columbarium.
Due to travel limitations and social distancing requirements surrounding the current pandemic, the family wishes to delay Rucker's full celebration of life until the week of his 7th birthday in June of 2021. Therefore, a Children's Service will take place at Dick Kelly Park of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Rucker's friends are invited to attend and wear bright colors, sing some of his favorite songs, and give an uplifting farewell to their buddy. However, it is important to John and Katie that the children in Rucker's life get some comfort and closure by saying goodbye to their friend.
After more than two years of bravely battling Stage IV Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma ("SEF"), a rare soft tissue sarcoma, Rucker found his refuge under God's wings and is forever healed.
Rucker was born on June 9, 2014 to Katie and John Collier. Rucker loved and was cherished by his family, Vestavia Day School (his second home), and an enormous community of friends. He was a tenderhearted rule-follower by nature with a wicked sense of (mostly age appropriate) humor. He loved many genres of music and specialized in Michael Jackson laser light dance parties. He was an expert costume-wearer and opinionated dresser, from Batman and Ninja Turtles, to his shark tooth necklaces and cut-sleeve muscle shirts. Rucker proudly rode his bike without training wheels around Byrd Park and crowned his t-ball career with a head-first dive into home base. He was a patient and loving big brother to Charlie and a trusty and loyal companion to his best friend and "brousin" Biv. Rucker fought cancer with the bravery and resilience of a superhero, and the spirit, trust and innocence of a child. After countless surgeries, scans, chemo treatments, radiation procedures, pricks, pokes and tears, he always ended up smiling with two thumbs up, saying "that was easy peasy."
Rucker and his parents never stopped searching for the next best treatment to cure him. They traveled the country, from Children's Hospital of Alabama to Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hospital, all as Rucker lit up the lives of the doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other families he met along the way. Simply put, to know Rucker was to love him, and his vibrance and love was felt by all.
Rucker is survived by his parents, John and Katie, and his brother Charlie (4); his paternal grandparents, Clark and Phyllis Collier ("Cissy and Pops"); his maternal grandmother, Debbie Berkmeier ("GrandDeb"); his aunts, uncles, and cousins: Lauren Collier ("LaLa") and Chris Allen; Lindsey ("LuLu"), Landon, Madison (15), Collier (12) and John Taylor McLain (6); Will ("Uncle Will"), Ann ("Annie"), Biv (7), and Milly Berkmeier (5); and Maggie ("Aunt Mag"), Sam, Jimmy (5), and Max Dorsett (1).
Rucker is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, William H. Berkmeier ("Grandpa Bill"), and paternal great-grandmother, Mary Floyd McRae ("M").
A private service for immediate family will be held the morning of Friday, November 6th at the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Columbarium.
Due to travel limitations and social distancing requirements surrounding the current pandemic, the family wishes to delay Rucker's full celebration of life until the week of his 7th birthday in June of 2021. Therefore, a Children's Service will take place at Dick Kelly Park of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Rucker's friends are invited to attend and wear bright colors, sing some of his favorite songs, and give an uplifting farewell to their buddy. However, it is important to John and Katie that the children in Rucker's life get some comfort and closure by saying goodbye to their friend.
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