On Wednesday morning, June 17, 2009 Colleen was taken to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to be reunited with her husband and love of her life, Buz. The Angels are surely singing.

Colleen was born, March 1, 1937 in Electric City, WA to Clarence and Bernice DeWitt while her Dad was helping build Grand Coulee Dam. Not long after that they moved to Conconully, WA where Colleen grew up alongside her 2 brothers, Russ & Rod and 3 sisters, Delores, Carmen & Jeanene. Moving to Spokane when she was 17 yrs old, to live with her oldest brother, Russ. Then onto Richland a few months later, to live with her older sister, Carmen. This is where she met the man she would immediately connect with, for the rest of her life. Buz had been working at Hanford for 1 year and already resided in Richland. Colleen was outside emptying the trash one brisk morning, bending over the large garbage can. Stretching to reach in, her feet lifted off the ground, she was so petite, she almost fell in, when a Hudson Hornet came cruising up the street. She struggled off the trash can, and turned around to see Buz had slowed down to a stop to 'check her out' in his words, to see who this 4'11" dark haired beauty was.. And it was love at first sight. He joked frequently later on that he knocked her off her feet when they met. It was a whirlwind romance & Colleen knew he was the only one for her, so she married Buz on June 4, 1955. Later in 1959, they bought their first home in Benton City, WA. In the following 50 years there, they raised 4 kids, who all graduated from Ki-Be High. Those years were filled with all of the normal ups and downs of life, but no matter the strife, Colleen always had a song in her heart and on her lips. She loved Country music, hymns, loved to sing and had a beautiful voice to complete that little package.

Most everyone in Benton City knew who Colleen was; she walked early every day, smiling at familiar faces throughout the years. She hustled so she could get back home and finally have her first cup of coffee then water, just as her hubby would start his walk for the day. Eventually she walked with Buz daily, towards the latter part of the 90's, with their border collie Sox, as they gracefully aged together. Over the years she worked in several local restaurants as head cook and manager, but especially loved working with Bill & Jimmy at Wolfies in the 1980's, so she could take care of all the kids, as she was always Mom or Grandma to each one.

But her favorite "work" was being a Wife, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Grandma, Great-Grandma and friend to all. And if you ask anyone involved they'll tell ya she was great at it! Colleen always talked of going to Nashville and because of her dear friends, Tony & Debbie Ferraro; her dream-trip came true. The place to be was at the McCanse home on Grace Ave., for every holiday, celebration and reunion. Colleen took pride in being the absolute best hostess to everyone throughout the years. By gosh, you never went hungry or without a quick dance and song from your favorite 'bigger then life' hostess, followed by that famous hug. Colleen never was a person to slow down, be late, or procrastinate. Everything in her life was done early, promptly, and quickly. Never a chore or task left unfinished, an appointment missed, a holiday not celebrated, no birthday or anniversary forgotten for any one of her family members. We always had a home to go too. Now her grandson, Billy Hansford, will make it his family's home & continue to keep our family traditions alive, just as she wished for him to do.

She took it hard when her beloved husband Buz died, Feb 12th, 2004 but after that her walk with the Lord grew stronger by the day in preparation for that big reunion party that's going on right now where we're sure that Yahtzee, beer and cigarettes are involved somehow. The day following Colleen's departure, big, fluffy white clouds unnaturally parted in the sky to reveal a beautiful long cloud made up of wispy Angel-like clouds that were completely colored by a bright rainbow and had a very obvious heart shape on one end……..THANKS MOM, WE NEEDED THAT……

Colleen is survived by her best friend & sister, Jeanene and Don Milicia of Richland, her 4 loving children, Terrie McCanse and Steve Moor of Benton City, Reed and Cathy McCanse of Olympia, Carol and Ernie Fero of Kennewick, Buzzy McCanse of Richland, 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild.