Collins, Vera Viola March 26, 1919 - August 19, 2013

Vera Viola (Wynes) Collins, 94, passed away on August 19, 2013. She was born on March 26, 1919, in a small family home, in Taberville, Missouri, to Lula May (Simmons) Wynes and George Washington Wynes. Vera was the seventh of eight children. Vera attended eleven years at Stockton School District, but moved to El Dorado Springs School District, where she graduated in 1938. She taught school in a one room school house for a short time before her marriage to Ira Eugene Collins, on February 17, 1940. To this union was born two children, Marcella and Gary. She was a devoted wife to the love of her life, Eugene. Preceding her in death is her husband, parents, sisters: Mildred, Lola, and Velda, and three brothers: Raymond, Roy and Lawrence (Lefty) Wynes. Vera was born again as a teenager, and joined the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in 1949. She was a farmer’s wife and help mate, always busy with her chickens, gardening, canning, freezing, and sewing. She made beautiful prize-winning quilts for all of her children and grandchildren. At the age of 88, she and her quilting talents were spotlighted and pictured in the April 2007 issue of Country Woman Lifestyle Magazine. She once said, “Every stitch was made with love.” She was a church clerk for eleven years, a Sunday school teacher, and sang alto in a gospel quartet. She was a role model of strength, courage, work ethic and sense of humor. Her faith in God never wavered. She took great pleasure in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very talented cook and seamstress. Vera was admired and respected by all who knew her, and will be forever missed by her loving family and friends for her quick wit, genuine spirit, and kindness. Surviving to cherish memories of Vera are one brother, James Clarence Wynes, 99, of Lawrence, Kansas; her two children: Marcella Newman and husband, Jim, of Webb City, Missouri; Gary Collins, of Dederick, Missouri; seven grandchildren: Kim Hines, Chance Hines, Christopher Newman, all of Webb City, Missouri, Justine Winkler and husband, Frank, of Joplin, Missouri, Kamron Collins-Johnson and husband, Chad, of Willard, Missouri, Chandler Collins and wife, Kali, of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and Casey Crocker and husband, Joshua, of Springfield, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.