Enterprise, Oregon
Elmer R. Collins, of Republic, Wash., died on June 16, 2007, in Renton, Wash. He was 75.
Mr. Collins was born in Minam to Lloyd and Irene Collins on Dec. 20, 1931. He attended schools in Enterprise and Milton Freewater.
He joined the Army in 1949 and was honorably discharged in 1952 as a staff sergeant. He met and married Kathryn Ann Deaver, in Walla Walla, Wash. and they were married in 1953, where the couple lived for a few years.
The couple had two daughters. In 1957, Mr. Collins was hired at the Boeing Company and settled in Renton, Wash., where he worked for 31 years. He retired from Boeing in 1987 and they moved to Republic, Wash. and lived on Curlew Lake. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodwork, and visiting with his neighbors who lived around the small lake neighborhood. He was known fondly as “Tom” to family and close friends.
The couple often attended the annual Collins Family Reunions, which are held in the Wallowa area. He has several cousins, nieces, and nephews who live in Wallowa region of northeastern Oregon.
Mr. Collins is survived by his wife Kathy of 54 years; daughters Linda Collins of Lake Stevens, Wash. and Pamela Marshall and husband Lance of Buckley, Wash.; brothers Harold Collins and wife Berwyn of Seattle, Wash.; David Collins and wife Toni of Nampa, Idaho; sister Carol Ann Meyers and husband Dennis of Walla Walla, Wash. He had six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on June 25 at Marlatt Funeral Home followed by a military burial at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.
Wallowa County Chieftain – July 12, 2007