Jason Collier's daughter honors her dad

Sports

Jason Collier's daughter honors her dad

Former Hawks player Jason Collier's legacy lives on in his daughter Ella, who has been stuffing "Daddy's Box" with cards, letters and pictures for eight years.

Jason Collier's legacy lives on in his daughter Ella who shoots baskets at the familly home on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in Canton. Much has been done to celebrate and honor the life of Collier, the Hawks player who passed away suddenly Oct. 15, 2005.

Ella Collier and her mom Katie Collier look over cards, letters and pictures placed in "Daddy's Box" that contains the cremated remains of her dad at the family's home on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in Canton. Ella has stuffed items in the case for eight years since Hawks player Jason Collier passed away suddenly Oct. 15, 2005.

This is a copy of a family photo of Jason Collier and his daughter Ella taken shortly before he passed away suddenly in 2005.

Ella (left) and Katie Collier grab basketballs from the front porch to shoot some hoops.

Ella Collier pulls one of her notes from the case.

Katie Collier (right) and her daughter Ella (left) take photo of Ella and her father out of the case.

Ella Collier reads a card she made for her dad's recent birthday.

Daddy's Box won't close. A case that contains the cremated remains of Jason Collier, prominently displayed in the family room of his wife and child, is stuffed with eight years of cards, letters and pictures from his little girl on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in Canton. Ella Collier is seen in the family photo at right with her dad shortly before he passed away suddenly Oct. 15, 2005.

Ella Collier (left) and her mom Katie look over the hearts Ella made and placed in the box.

One of the letters Ella Collier wrote to her late father.

Ella Collier, the daughter of former Hawks player Jason Collier, attends the Hawks game last April where the Jason Collier Memorial Trophy was awarded.

Ella Collier plays with one of her family dogs "Boogie" after getting home from school on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in Canton.

A picture drawn by Ella Collier of her family, including her late father Jason, that hung for months on the refrigerator before being placed in Daddy's Box.

Katie Collier passes a basketball to her daughter Ella while playing hoops at the family home.

Ella and Katie Collier show off their No. 40 wristbands in honor of Jason Collier, at a Hawks game in April where the wife and daughter awarded a trophy named for the former player.

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Jason Collier's legacy lives on in his daughter Ella who shoots baskets at the familly home on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, in Canton. Much has been done to celebrate and honor the life of Collier, the Hawks player who passed away suddenly Oct. 15, 2005.

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