Willa Jean Farris Collavo was born December 14, 1925, to Ira Owen Farris and Juanita Mathews Farris in Marietta, Oklahoma. She passed from this life on June 10, 2023, at the age of 97 years, five months, and 27 days. Her parents, her older sister, Ida Frances Wier, and her younger brother Owen Allen Farris, preceded her in death.

Jean spent her early years in Oklahoma, moved to the Rio Grande Valley, and attended Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD public schools, where she graduated high school. She married Maynard Collavo on October 1, 1943, and traveled with him while he served in the military. After World War II, they settled in Taft, Texas, where they reared their four children. Jean taught school for Taft ISD for over 20 years. During that time, she received her bachelor's degree from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, TX. At her death, she had been a retired teacher for 37 years.
She loved to travel and used her summers and retirement to travel in the US, Europe, and Africa. She traveled to Alaska with her great-grandson, took her mother to Europe, visited her daughter stationed in Germany,  visited her oldest son when he lived in Africa, and cruised to the Bahamas with her older sister. She also lived in Jamaica and Venezuela while married to Maynard, who traveled for work to both countries.

She is survived by siblings Geraldine (Sue) Farris Moore, Phil Farris, and Cydne Farris; her four children Jon Gregory Collavo (Ann), Janice Lee Sander (Paul), Dana Alan Collavo (Lana), and Victor Irwin Collavo (Michelle); her twelve grandchildren Austin Collavo, Travis Collavo, Danielle Collavo, Aaron Deutsch, Michael Deutsch (Martha), Charles Hughes, Valorie Mattoon, Morgan Sander (Elisabeth), Adam Collavo (Amy), Troy Collavo (Haley), Cara Young (Clay) and Brett Collavo (Caili). Twenty-five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild also survive her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Hope Hospice, who took such good care of her for the last two years, or the Audobon Society.

A Life Celebration service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday June 19, 2023 at 11:00 am at The Cucrch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31355 Stahl Lane Bulverde, Texas.