Judith "Judy" Sharon Collins...Age 72

Judith "Judy" Sharon Collins age 72 of Osawatomie, Kansas died Monday, February 13, 2017 at her home.

Visitation 10-11 AM Friday, February 17, 2017 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home.

Service 11 AM Friday, February 17, 2017 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home.

Burial at Ruhamah Cemetery in Rantoul, Kansas.

Memorials are to the Miami County Diabetes Support Group and may be sent to Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home PO Box 430, Osawatomie, Kansas 66064.

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Judith Sharon “Judy” Collins was born November 4, 1944 in Galena, Kansas the fifth child of seven born to Otto William and Sarah Faye (Clark) Woods.

When Judy was three years old the family moved to Parkville, Missouri. Judy grew up in Parkville and attended school there.  After school she moved to Kansas City, Missouri and went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. While working there some of her friends set her up on a date that would last for forty-three years. Judy and her date Earnest Benjamin Collins married after only two short months on January 26, 1963 in Turner, Kansas and became the parents of two sons Kelly and Robert.

They family moved many times, from Kansas City to Gardner, Edgerton, Iola and even Nebraska just to name a few. They liked to live in the country and if the towns started to get crowded they would look for a different place to go.  But Judy and her husband Earnest finally settled the last few years in Osawatomie until his death in 2006. Judy remained in the home until failing health forced her to move to her son and daughter in-laws home in rural Osawatomie.

Judy worked in several different places, mostly in labor production jobs, however there was one place she worked that she really liked in Gardner, Cramer Sports where she was employed for about four years.

She loved to do crafts, crochet and was a wonderful cook. She cooked everyday like it was a holiday, the table was always full of delicious foods, whether it was dinner for two or twenty-two.  She enjoyed outdoor activities which included her two sons Pee Wee baseball leagues or Tubing on the lake in LaCygne at fifty years of age. She was an avid card player, anything from Canasta to Pinnochle, but 13 point pitch was her favorite.  She always loved spending time with her family, she even held the office of either President, Secretary or Treasurer for the Pee Wee League’s for seven years in Gardner.

Three years after the death of her husband Judy met Jesse Crigger while eating breakfast with her daughter in-law at a local restaurant in Paola. They soon became close friends and remained so from then on. She once said he helped her in so many ways, and made her life worth living, a dear friend for Judy and her entire family.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earnest and five siblings: Billy, Richard and David Woods, Barbara (Woods) Freeman and Dorothy (Woods) Booton.

She is survived by her two sons: Kelly (Cassie) Collins, and Robert (Theresa) Collins all of Osawatomie, KS. One sister Deanna Anderson of Springhill, Ks, four grandchildren: Blake McNeill, Tanner Loveland, Paige Collins and Tara Collins along with many other family and friends. And of course her dear special friend Jesse Crigger all whom will truly miss her smile, her sense of humor and her loving personality.