Mary Esther Collins

Mary Esther Collins, age 75, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away on December 12, 2015. Visitation will be 12:00PM-1:00PM, Funeral, 1:00PM, Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer, & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd. with burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery to follow.

Mary Esther Collins was born June 19, 1940 in Miller County, Missouri to Jack and Ruby Snelling Wickham. She left to join them December 12, 2015. She accepted Christ as her savior at Riverview Baptist Church on November 25, 1951 and was baptized February 3, 1952 along with her daddy.

Mary Esther attended School of the Osage, where she was involved in many activities. She was an avid sport, participating in volleyball, softball, square dancing and was a cheerleader throughout high school. She was also active in school plays, band and was an honor student. Before graduating in 1958, she was chosen Princess of the Pun-Ga-Har-Jo, the annual Indian Coronation Ceremony.

Mary Esther was a beautiful person inside and out. After graduation, she was elected to be a contestant at the Eldon Fair and was crowned the 1958 Queen. She then moved on as a contestant in the Miss Missouri Pageant. In the fall, she moved to Kansas City and attended modeling school and did quite a bit of modeling for various firms.

On May 1, 1959 she was united in marriage to Ron Vincent and two children were born into this union, Michael Scott and Teri Lynn. She later married Homer Collins and was blessed with a third child, Perry Homer. After being widowed at the age of 40, she went forward and met her current companion, Al Paussa of Kansas City. They have spent over thirty years together, enjoying life. They enjoy spending winters in Arizona with good friends, good times and lots of golf.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Homer Collins and their son Perry Homer. Also, two step-children, John Collins and Carolee Brewer. She is also joining two brothers, Donald and Dallas Wickham, two sisters, Lola Franklin and Colleen Graham and two nephews, Kyle Lee Wickham and Steven Graham.

She is survived by her very special companion, Al Paussa of Kansas City, who has been her constant companion and caregiver through this devastating illness. Surviving is her son, Michael Vincent of Grand Junction, Colorado, daughter Teri Vincent of Kansas City, three brothers, Gary, Jimmie and wife Connie, Danny and his wife Katie, all of the Lake of the Ozarks area. One sister, Elaine Crowell and husband Darrell of Springfield, Missouri. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.