We are sad to report the death of Ellen Collyer on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. She was 68. No services are scheduled.
Ellen was the widow of Dave Collyer, the club’s primary organizer and strongest player of the 1980s, as well as the mother of NM Curt Collyer, the strongest player raised in Spokane. Ellen was one of the unsung heroes of area chess. She was a hostess of the Collyer Memorial tournament and helped out at the tournament however she could, delivering food and supplies, hosting out-of-town players, driving people to the airport and the the playing site, and being a sounding board for busy TDs, old friends, and visitors to the event. She was a friend to many a chess player from the area and outside of it. She also was a second mother to many of our young players who grew up with Curt. She also did a remarkable job keeping in touch with older players and attending funerals for those from the club who had passed away in recent years.
Ellen will be missed. We offer our condolences to Curt. Our entire chess community will feel her absence.