Obituary of Patricia Jane Collins

Patricia, 97, was born on March 20, 1929 in St. Joseph, Michigan, the daughter of James and Sylvia Gersonde Matthews. She passed away Wednesday evening, July 1, 2026 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry, where Patt was given great care over the past ten years. Patricia was a graduate of Pomona High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Lindenwood College. She was united in marriage on June 9, 1949 in Pomona, CA to Richard Theodore Collins. This union was blessed with four children: Dave, Tami, Joy and Bob. Patt worked as a teacher for Immanuel Lutheran School, retiring in May 1985. Patt was preceded in death by her parents, James and Sylvia Matthews; her brothers, Mike, Dan, and Tom Matthews; her sisters Barbara Brown and Teddy Short and her beloved husband of 70 years, Richard Collins, who died on September 9, 2019. Survivors include four children: Dave Collins and his wife, Debbie, of Weeki Wachee, FL, Tami Nichols of Lake St Louis, MO, Joy Kick, of Marthasville, MO and Robert Collins and his wife, Judy, of Elsberry MO; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; Patt was blessed by the amazing staff and friends at the Elsberry Health Care Center. A Celebration of Life for Patt will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry Health Care Center in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.