Collin Roy Pole passed away on June 11, 2018 at home in Hoopa, with his family by his side, at the age of 87.

He was born in Idabel, Oklahoma on July 1, 1930 to Roy and Leola Adel (Watson) Pole. He came to California with his parents and brothers in 1945, and moved to Hoopa in 1947.

He began working at 17 as a sawmill carriage rider. He quickly worked his way up to head sawyer, the position he held for the rest of his career. When his mill was washed away by the flood in 1964, he left home with nothing but a few changes of clothes and no idea where to go. He said he would call when he found work. He found it 150 miles away, and worked there camped under a redwood tree away from home, until a job was available at another mill in Hoopa. Later, after all the mills in Hoopa had closed, he found work in Arcata. For 18 years he made the long drive over the hill to the coast and only missed work twice. Both times, he had gotten into a car accident and wasn’t physically able to be there. He did these things not because he was a workaholic, but because taking care of his family was absolutely his number one priority. That’s the man he was . Family first.

He was drafted into the Army in 1955 and served as a mechanic until 1957.

Collin married Cheryl K. Cushman in 1959. They remained married for 58 years until his passing.

In the 1960s he raced motorcycles on the local flat track and TT circuits. A fierce competitor, he either won the race, or he crashed trying to win. He brought home more trophies than the house had room for.

At home he was an avid gardener, hot rodder, and DIY engineer. He was always designing, building, or fixing something. There was nothing he couldn’t fix or build himself. And if he didn’t have the right tool for the job, he would build that too. Over the years he built and customized several cars. His last was his 1934 Dodge Bros. pickup. He restored it all in his own shop, with his own skills, including several custom one of a kind parts. He loved going to the local Rod Runs, and talking about or doing pretty much anything to do with cars.

Most of all he loved spending time with and playing with all his little grandbabies. And they adored him too.

Collin was a member of the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Hoopa. He loved singing hymns and had a beautiful baritone voice. He also taught Sunday school as long as he was physically able to do so.

Collin was preceded in death by his father Roy Pole, mother Leola Adel Pole; brothers, Clifford Pole, Miron Pole, and Marshall Pole; and sister Mary Ellen Pole.

He is survived by his wife Cheryl and,

6 children,

Virgil Pole, Colleen Goff, Delbert Pole, Lori Pole, Tina Pole, and Ethan Pole Sr.;

24 grandchildren,

Virgil Jr., Aaron, Amos, Nathan, Stevie, Oscar, Farren, Mykel, Spencer, Shannon, Maxwell, Halli, Levi, Zach, Samantha, Randi, Tee, Collin, Clinton, Cassidy, Marcos Jr., Kagan, Shinobi, and Ethan Jr.;

31 great-grandchildren,

Stephanie, Julianna, Virgil, Johnnie, Margret, Carmen, Ariana, Lelencia, Aaron, Sequoia, Natia, Syliss, Damien, Makailee, Makenzie, Elizabeth, Cleora, Minnie, Sloan, Isabell, Kahlil, Jake, Terra, Kaydence, KayLee, Madisyn, Melia, Emily, Naiya, Sophia, Charlie;

4 great-great-grandchildren,

Avi, Jake Jr., Analicia, and Darrell.

Collin was a loving and devout husband and father. He will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held at the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Hoopa on Monday, June 18th at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Tom Counts officiating. Interment will take place at the V.F.W. Willow Creek Cemetery. Reception following at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Hoopa.

Casketbearers will be Virgil Pole Jr., Aaron Pole, Amos Pole, Nathan Pole, Maxwell Pole, Levi Pole, Zach Pole, Collin Lane, Clinton Lane, Ethan Pole Jr., and Jake Gayton.

Honorary bearers will be Virgil Pole Sr., Delbert Pole, and Ethan Pole Sr.

Flowers may be sent to Paul’s Chapel in Arcata.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Collin Pole’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.