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Kelsey Sierra Collard-CazeePassing: April 22, 2025

Service:

Chastain Funeral Home

Military Rites

Tuesday, April 29th @ 6:30pm

Visitation:

Chastain Funeral Home

Tuesday, April 29th @ 2:00pm-6:30pm

Cemetery:

No Burial

BEDFORD – Kelsey Sierra Collard-Cazee, 34, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at her residence after a three year battle with cancer.

Born September 22, 1990 in Reno, Nevada, she was the daughter of Wayne David Collard, Sr. and Angela Mae (DuBois) Collard.  She married Jessica Hope Cazee on August 6, 2022.

Kelsey was a 2009 graduate of Eastern High School. She retired after 17 years of service with the Indiana Army National Guard where she received many medals and awards. Kelsey had been deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and Kuwait in 2019. She also served veterans by helping with the USO. Kelsey was active in her community as a Lawrence County Poultry 4-H leader, Orbitz soccer coach, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, and Heltonville Youth League coach. She was part of the Shawswick Elementary School PTO and had recently been working there. Kelsey was an excellent woodworker and had her own business, CC Woodworking. She was passionate about dart throwing and the community surrounding the sport. Kelsey loved fishing, camping, kayaking, gardening, and her chickens. She was always active and loved by many friends.

Survivors include her wife, Jessica Hope Cazee-Collard of Bedford; children, Mason Clark, Collyns Clark, and Holden Clark; mother, Angela Mae Collard of Bedford; brothers, Wayne David (Bethany Jean) Collard, Jr. of Bloomington and Kevin Wayne (Della) Collard of Pekin; maternal grandparents, Bill and Sandy DuBois of Ramsey; aunts and uncles; Sandra (Richard) Nourie of Bloomington, Nachelle (Jarod) Pearson of Corydon, and Jennifer (Justin) Hammond of Louisville; nieces and nephews, Luciana Kate Collard, Lawson David Collard, Austin Collard, Wyatt Collard, and Cheyanne Collard; and cousins, Chase (Cortni) Nourie, Miya (Bobby Swain) Nourie, Rowan Pearson, Kennedy Pearson, Landon Pearson, and Josh (Richard) DuBois. She is also survived by her beloved dog, Mando and her puppy, Freya.

Her father; maternal grandmother, Sharion DuBois; and nephew, Lincoln Brooks Collard, preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 705 West Warren Street, Mitchell, Indiana, 47446 with military rites accorded at 6:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial Gifts: A college fund for the children has been established with Crane Federal Credit Union c/o Jessica Cazee, account ending in 92.

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10 Guest Comments

  1. Guest: SGM Craig Davis | Ellettsville IN
    Date: April 27, 2025
    Kelsey was one my soldiers on my last deployment in 2019/20. She was a top notch NCO who could always be counted on to accomplish any mission given to her. She was a good hearted person who was always looking out for other soldiers.
  2. Guest: Latonda McDuffie | Louisville, KY
    Date: April 25, 2025
    I had the pleasure of coaching Kelsey aka Sarge. She was an awesome athlete and even better person with such a kind heart. My condolences and prayers go out to her loved ones.
  3. Guest: Troy Wayne Deckard | Bedford IN
    Date: April 25, 2025
    I didn't know Kelsey personally, but as a fellow veteran, thank her for her service to our country. Sincere condolences to her family and children.
  4. Guest: Brenda Mckain-LCCPS | Brownstown, Ind.
    Date: April 25, 2025
    All volunteers of Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services (LCCPS) are so sorry for your loss.
  5. Guest: Stephanie Willock | Terre Haute, IN
    Date: April 25, 2025
    Rest in Heaven, my sweet Kelsey girl 😭 You finally settled into your happily ever after, only to have it taken away. You deserved so many more blissful years on this earth. You will live in my memories always.
  6. Guest: Shirley L Terrell | Mitchell
    Date: April 25, 2025
    So sorry Jessica. Prayers for you sweet girl.
  7. Guest: Dorothy & Jonathan Williams & Owen | Bedford, IN
    Date: April 24, 2025
    We only knew Kelsey as our son's baseball coach for one season, but it was enough to see what a great person she was. She was so warm & kind, patient in teaching & working with him, & a great encourager. I'm so glad to have had her as an example for my kiddo. We're praying for you.
  8. Guest: Ham | New Albany, Indiana
    Date: April 24, 2025
    SFC Collard, Thank you for caring for your soldiers, and loving your friends and family fiercely! Til Valhalla!
  9. Guest: Annette Simon Miller | Corydon
    Date: April 24, 2025
    I will keep Kels and her family in my prayers
  10. Guest: Joshua DuBois & Richard Fessenden | Louisville, KY
    Date: April 24, 2025
    Dearest, Brave Kelsey, The mark you’ve left on me and our family is one that time will never erase. Saying we’ll miss you doesn’t begin to capture the weight of this loss — we are truly lost without you. From your award-winning soups and your incredible woodworking, to your uncanny way with chickens and your unwavering courage as a soldier — you were extraordinary in every way. Kelsey, your bravery in defending our country was only matched by the strength with which you faced your greatest battle — the fight for your life. You never wavered, never hesitated to put others before yourself. Your selflessness was constant, your love for your family unshakable. It’s that love that will continue to hold us together in your absence. There won’t be a Sunday dinner, a holiday gathering, or a quiet moment where your name and spirit won’t be present. You are and always will be deeply loved by everyone lucky enough to have known you. “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran does not have that problem.” — Ronald Reagan