Gene Collins

Gene Collins, passed away Monday, January 14, 2019 at his home, at the age of 89.  Gene, the son of William Desmond “WD” and Edna Marie (Van Horn) Collins, was born April 11, 1929, in Okfuskee County. He attended school at Centerview.  On October 2, 1948, Gene married Edna Lynch in Prague, OK.  Gene proudly served in the US Army.  In 1951 he went to work for the City of Shawnee and rose to the position of utilities director for the City of Shawnee in 1969.  He retired in 1986 after spending 35 years working for Shawnee.  Gene and Edna were faithful members of Temple Baptist Church until his health no longer allowed them to attend.  Gene coached little league baseball and loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Norma Lee Collins, Betty Lou Spillers and Phyllis Keeley; brothers, Glen Collins and Freddie Collins, grandson Jeremy Eugene Collins, great-grandson Steve Martin Crane and a son-in-law, Jack Lindley.

He is survived by his wife, Edna, sons and daughter-in-law; Mike Collins, and Ken and Rita Collins; daughters; Barbara Sovereign and Carol Lindley; grandchildren; Melinda Switch, Bobbye Kaye Collins, Jennifer Attebery, Jessica Senn, Kason Collins, Ashley Crane, Mason Sovereign, Justin Lindley, Megan Laffoon, and Blake Lindley, twenty-two great-grandchildren; brother and sister: Louise Cloud and Tommy Lee Collins, several nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

A funeral service will be Thursday, January 17 at 1:00 PM, at Temple Baptist Church in Shawnee. Interment will follow at Kellerby Cemetery in Prague. Services are under the direction of Walker Funeral Service in Shawnee.