Lota McCollough

August 17, 1942 – December 7, 2016

Lota McCollough was born on August 17, 1942 in Stockton, CA. She spent most of her childhood in Newport Beach, CA. During high school she began dating and married Jim McCollough on September 5, 1958 and they moved to Tucson AZ, where Jim attended the University of Arizona. In 1960, they decided to move to Wellton to be closer to family and live on the family farm. They built their first home in Yuma, AZ in 1965 and acquired Top Hat Dry Cleaners in the mid 1960’s, both working long hours. Their 1^st child, Jeffrey was born in 1961. Their 2^nd child Jo Ann was born in 1962 and passed away on March 13, 1965. Lota was diagnosed one year later with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and wasn’t expected to live, becoming pregnant with their 3^rd child, Pamela; needless to say, both survived and it was a miracle.

After the divorce in 1978, Lota was a single parent looking for employment and trying to find her niche in life. She held down several jobs at one time to ensure her kids were taken care of. She stumbled into real estate in the 80’s….. a profession that she loved! She retired from real estate in the early 2000’s. She started her volunteer career at YRMC in 2006. Volunteering was a big part of her life and gave her purpose.

On February 10, 2016, Lota was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma aka as bile duct cancer. It is a rare cancer where only 6000 people in the US develop it each year. The Sherman Home, Hospice of the Valley @ Mayo Clinic is where she took her last breath and passed away on December 7, 2016. She received the best of care and was treated as though she was being taken care of by her own children.

Lota’s lasting legacy is her family. She devoted her life to loving Jeff and Pam, her two surviving children, teaching both the values of life and nurturing their spiritual development. She adored her grandson Sean and his wife Julie and of course her great grandchild, Judy. She stayed close to all.

The McCollough family and friends ask for your help in accelerating research for this devastating disease and instead of flowers or donations to the family, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. We need to develop testing that will give a more accurate diagnosis to increase the survival rates for patients diagnosed with this cancer. Thank you in advance for honoring Lota’s memory.

A message from her kids: Thanks mom for being our mother. You are forever in our hearts & we love and miss you!!

Click here to contribute in memory of Lota

• If you wish to donate by phone, please call (888) 936-6731 and speak with Laurie Kikel.
• If you wish to donate by mail, send check to:
  • CCF – In Memory of Lota McCollough
  • 5526 West 13400 South, #510
  • Herriman, Utah 84096,  USA

Memorial Service

Saturday, January 21, 2017
10:30am

Yuma Regional Medical Center
Administration Conference Rooms