Margaret "Meg" L Collins

Meg was born into the clan Kerr on Dec. 18, 1947, and named after her grandmother, Margaret Olsson, who was the first editor at the Boca Raton News. She graduated from New Boston Huron High School in 1966.

Music and chorus was an important part of Meg's life. A dashing young gentleman in her hometown noticed this and organized a Christmas caroling party to get Meg's attention, which paid off when she married news reporter, George Collins, on Aug. 23, 1969.

Meg graduated with a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in January 1970, and they had a son, Christopher, in June.

Throughout her long career in teaching, Meg shaped the lives of children in Ida, Mich.; Polk, Flagler, Volusia and Charlotte counties in Florida; and Tifton, Georgia. She was part of the original staff of Myakka River Elementary School and wrote their theme song. She also earned a master's degree in education from the University of South Florida in 1996.

Meg was a member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, a geographic fraternity; Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society in education; the Charlotte County chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; Member of the National Council for Social Studies, and past member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

Meg and George were charter members of Edgewater United Methodist Church, where she wrote the music for their “Last Supper” production in 1992. She became president of the Promenades East Condo association after Hurricane Charley, and was pivotal in the restoration and beautification of the building.

Meg was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, George Collins. She is survived by her son, Christopher (Nicole) Collins of Port Charlotte; brother Kenn (LuAnn) Edwards; best friends Bernice McGuirk and Christine Fischer; sister-in-law Twila Shoemaker; as well as numerous nieces and a nephew.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sat, Nov. 9, 2019 at Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 2405 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte.