Catherine Anne Collins

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, Abilene, with Chuck Farina officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Catherine was born June 26, 1953 in El Paso, Texas to Arthur and Abigail Kitterman Collins. The family moved to Abilene in 1957. She had happy college years at North Texas University in Denton, and received her Master’s degree there. After teaching school in Dallas for a time, she moved to Los Angeles and was a tutor and governess for several families and also pursued writing lyrics for various musicians, one of whom is Tony Klatka of Blood, Sweat, and Tears, a dear friend. Catherine returned to Abilene for a few years, still writing books and lyrics. She was a Christian. Catherine was beloved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Collins.

Survivors include her mother, Abigail Collins of Abilene; brother, Steve Collins of Dallas, Texas; sister, Margie Spivey and husband, George of Abilene; aunt, Barbara Purser of Spring, Texas; uncle, David Collins of Abilene; aunt, Lace Vitunac of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; nephew, Kyle Collins; nieces, Tara Hall and Katelyn Jones; and cousins, Karen Martin, Charles Vitunac, Ann Vitunac, Melissa Purser, and Dr. Jim Chamness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, 2nd Floor, Abilene, Texas 79605.