Russell Mark McCollum, age 64 , died on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Russ was born on July 23, 1953 on his parent’s wedding anniversary in Macon, Missouri. He grew up in Clarence, Missouri. He was the second child of Bob and Norma McCollum of Clarence, Missouri and grew up in what he called the show building, Jewel Theater. He graduated from South Shelby High School where he played football and spoke often of being on a team that won state championship his senior year. He graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religion. He accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at age 18 led by his older brother Bob who he fondly referred to as “Bobert” He met and fell in love with Valerie Eckles at college and they married May 30, 1976. They moved to Hannibal, Missouri for 2 years and were very involved members of Calvary Baptist Church. After that they moved to Ft. Worth, Texas where Russ attended and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He was interim pastor at Ten Mile Baptist Church near Clarence, MO. He then became pastor of First Baptist Church of Pierce City, Missouri. Later he became pastor of First Baptist Church of Murphy. He completed his years of ministry at First Baptist Church of Horine. He loved serving in the ministry and felt called to tend to those in the church with need of healing their spirit and leading seekers to the Lord. He desired to serve well beyond what his health limitations would allow. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elmer and Rosa McCollum, Russell and Dorothy Benton, and his mother Norma McCollum, his in-laws Helen and ‘Tex’ VD Eckles and Leslie Eckles. Russ is survived by his wife Valerie, his son Mark McCollum, Lindsey, Liliana, son John McCollum, Genia, Lucy, Lindsay and Lacey, son David McCollum, his father, Bob McCollum Sr, his brother Bob McCollum Jr., Marsha, their daughter Robyn Oldfield, Eric, Jonah, Josiah and Judah, daughter Anna, brother, Scott McCollum, Karon. sister Deana Quinley, Pat, Joey Harrison, Heidi, Jaclyn Caldwell, Paul, Jaida, Hadley and Cora, sister in-law Polly Eckles, Carrie Clow, Keith and Nathaniel. His Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Arnold, Missouri.