Jerry Ray Collins

Jerry Ray Collins, Sr. (Ray), 84, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2015. He was born September 15, 1930, in Nacogdoches, Texas, to Seaman F. and Hattie Mae Deaton Collins. He attended Stephen F. Austin University and served in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp during the Korean war. He retired as a civil servant from the Naval Air Station Memphis where he was an education specialist for the Aviation Fire Fighting, Aviation Electronics, and Air Traffic Control Schools. After retirement from NAS Memphis he remained active by working on a variety of construction projects including teaching home construction by having students build playhouses that were auctioned to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. He most recently worked at Lowes. He was a member of White Station Church of Christ for many years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Mary Ann Jones Collins, his sons Jerry R. Collins, Jr. (Diane) and James F. Collins (Peggy), two grandsons Benjamin D. Collins (Jennifer) and Clark H. Collins (Allison), one great grandchild and three sisters. The family requests that memorials in his honor be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Visitation will be Monday, February 23 from 6-8 PM and the funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 24 at 10:30 AM at Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar.