Mrs. Katie Ruth Collins, born March 20, 1928, passed away September 8, 2013, at the age of 85. A memorial service will be held at Wright Ferguson Funeral Home in Raymond, MS on Saturday, September 14, at 3pm, with visitation from 2pm to 3pm.

Born and raised in Lincoln and Copiah counties to Thomas Lee Bailess and Katherine Rebecca Applewhite, Mrs. Collins lived most of her adult life in Jackson. A retired St. Dominic Hospital nursing supervisor and homemaker, she enjoyed a variety of activities, including fishing, sewing, gardening, and playing the piano. Katie was extremely interested in genealogy and spent many hours researching both the Collins and Bailess family trees. Following her husbands death in 2001, she moved to Riggs Manor in Raymond, MS. Mrs. Collins drew comfort and strength from her devotion to her faith, which sustained her through two successful battles with cancer.

She is preceded in death by her husband, V. Dwane Collins. Mrs. Collins is survived by her son, Curtis Collins Wendy of Brandon, MS daughters Sue Bordelon Bill of Baton Rouge, LA, and Rose Lowther John of Brandon, MS and grandchildren, Dana Collins Chestang, John Lowther, III and April Lowther.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association .