Naomi Lee Collins, daughter of Marion and Agnes Ellen (Wilkerson) Collins, Sr. was born at home March 25, 1936 near Osceola, Missouri. She was the fourth child having an older sister Esther Ruth, two older brothers Marion Jr. and Virgil Evans. A younger brother Paul Thomas died in infancy and her younger sister Sharon Rose Collins Newberry joined the family later.
Naomi left home at age 6 to join her three older siblings at Mt. Zion Bible School near Ava, Missouri. Her grandmother, Susie Lee Collins, cared for her and her siblings. Her first grade teacher was her aunt Maude Veach. She was saved as a first grader, and later she was sanctified wholly.
Naomi graduated from the eighth grade at Mt. Zion Bible School in 1949, from high school in 1953; from KCCBS in 1955 with a Bachelor of Missions and from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in 1960. She received her RN degree by taking state boards at Jefferson City, Missouri.
Naomi taught one term at Mt. Zion Bible School from 1960-1961. She worked as an RN at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri . Later she taught at Lamar, Colorado Bible School and worked at the Catholic Hospital there. She also worked at the Cedar County Memorial Hospital and at Ellett Memorial Hospital. She served in Jamaica, West Indies as a teacher at Venture High School. She served in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands as a nurse at a clinic for the British government and as assistant in church work with Florence Wilkerson for the Church of God (Holiness). Afterwards she taught in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands at Tu Tu School. Finally she aided Cynthia Wiggins, Leta Keith and Rene and Lois Bardales in missionary work in different locations in Mexico.
Naomi left the mission field to take care of her father. Naomi and her sister Esther Ruth cared for their father until he passed away in 1993.
After retiring as a missionary she received her 15 year pin from Truman Lake Manor in Lowry City, Missouri. The Missouri State Board of Nursing honored her with a fifty year Certificate of Nursing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, one brother, Marion, her infant brother, Paul Thomas, and one nephews, Marion III.
Naomi went to be with her precious Lord Sunday morning June 21, 2015 leaving two sisters, Esther Ruth Collins and Sharon Rose Newberry, one brother, Virgil; two sisters in-law, Elizabeth and Mary Collins; three nieces, Susan Collins, Tammi Scott and Rhonda Carlson, four nephews, Jeffrey Collins, Andrew, Aaron, and Anthony Newberry. She is also survived by a special cousin, Jane Cole, several great nieces and nephews and many cousins, other relatives and many friends.
By God’s grace we will meet you soon.
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