Hugh Sherwood Collett, 99
Dr. Hugh Sherwood Collett passed away peacefully at his home in Elko, Nevada, on April 16, 2020, at the age of 99.
He was born on February 12,1921, in Chicago, Illinois, to George Arthur and Ruth Leisk Collett. He graduated from Wabash College in 1943. Hugh earned his M.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine. He completed surgical training at the University of Chicago; the University of Pennsylvania; the Caylor-Nickel Clinic, Bluffton, Indiana; St. Joseph’s Hospital, San Francisco, California.
Hugh served in the Navy V-12 Program during World War II. He was commissioned a captain in the USAF during the Korean War and was stationed at Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda from 1951-1953. There he was the chief of surgery and radiology.
In 1954, Hugh joined the Elko Clinic and practiced general surgery for 30 years. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery. Hugh’s surgical society memberships included American College of Surgeons, Southwestern Surgical Congress and Western Association of Railway Surgeons. He was also a trustee of the American Group Practice Association.
Hugh’s interest in education led him to serve for 12 years on the Elko County School Board. He was one of the founders of Elko Community College, now Great Basin College. There he taught LPN and EMT classes, and served on the advisory board for nearly 50 years. Hugh was awarded Emeritus Clinical Professor of Surgery from the University of Nevada, Reno, and received an honorary baccalaureate degree from Great Basin College. In 2015 the Nevada Board of Regents granted him the Distinguished Nevadan Award.
Hugh participated in many civic groups including Rotary International, Elko Chamber of Commerce, Northeastern Nevada Museum, Toastmasters, and Elko Council of the Navy League. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir.
Hugh and Emily Louise Larson were married in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 29, 1943. They were married for 73 years before her passing on November 28, 2016. They are survived by their four children: Karen (Stewart) Wilson of Lamoille, Nevada; Diane (Gregory) Kreizenbeck of Phoenix, Arizona; Virginia Oustad of Elko, Nevada; George (Elizabeth) Collett of Cornville, Arizona. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Hugh and Louise enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad, but they treasured their time at their beloved cabin at Priest Lake, Idaho. They spent more than fifty summers extending Collett hospitality to family and friends, which always included daytime boat excursions and evening gin and tonics. They also made time to volunteer in the community as docents at the historic Priest Lake Museum. And every Tuesday, weather permitting, Hugh would be at the Priest Lake Golf Course enjoying a round of golf and the fellowship of his men’s league friends.
Hugh also enjoyed fishing, skiing, hunting chuker, and playing the piano. He could always be found in the audience when his children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren were playing or performing.
The family suggests friends make memorial donations to the Priest Lake Museum, 38 Priest Lake Museum Road, Priest Lake, Idaho 83856 or to a charity of their choice.