Alta Fay Collins

Alta Fay Collins, 81, of Gardner, Kan., formerly of Nevada, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at her home. She was born March 12, 1928, in Yankton, S.D., to George I. Pettit and Josephine M. Merkwan Pettit. She married James Elmer Collins on July 5, 1945, in Fort Scott, and he survives of the home.

Alta grew up in Montevallo and Olive Branch, Mo. Following their marriage, she and her husband briefly lived in San Diego, Calif., while James served in the U. S. Air Force during World War II. Later they returned to Missouri and resided in Nevada until 2005. Alta was a pharmacy assistant working in Wilkinson's Drug Store and then the Nevada State Hospital for 20 years. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and on the Board of Calvary Christian School, and she also worked with the Youth for Christ Organization. In Gardner she was a member of Grace Baptist Church. She loved quilt work, needlework, crafts, and music and enjoyed working in the yard. Alta was a loving friend and always sought to embrace and help others. Alta was devoted to her husband and family. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors in addition to her husband James include her children, James Earl Collins and Janis of Nevada, William Wesley Collins and Melinda of Raymore, Mo., Marvalee Faye Collins of Olathe, Kan., and Peggy Jean Bonine and Bill of Gardner; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth Pettit of Wichita, Kan., and Arnold Pettit of Nevada; and one sister Doris Ryan of Altamont, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Irving Pettit.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Terry Mosher officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Dederick, Mo. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Visitation in Gardner, Kan., will be held from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, at the Bruce Funeral Home.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the Calvary Baptist Church, Nevada, in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.