Harvie Lecil Collins

Harvie Lecil Collins, 90, of Jonesboro, beloved husband, father, grandpa and uncle, went to be with the Lord Sunday, March 21, 2010, at St. Bernard's Village. Harvie was born on Oct. 29, 1919, in Etowah, to the late Gordie and Julia Veach Collins. He and the former Lela Mae Barker of Milligan Ridge, were married March 30, 1944. He served our country in the 8th Air Force from 1941-1962, retiring after 21 years. He served during World War II in England, making the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He lived much of his life after retiring from the Air Force in Huntsville, Ala.

In civilian life, Harvie worked for the Space Division of Chrysler Corporation in Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville on the Saturn I missile. He also worked for Barber Colman Company from 1969-1982. The next 10 years of his life were spent in Florida doing volunteer work for Word of Life Fellowship. The last years of his life were spent gardening and fishing in Alabama and his final four years were spent living in St. Bernard's Village in Jonesboro.

Harvie was preceded in death by four sisters and nine brothers.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Lela M. Collins of St. Bernard's Village; a daughter, Patty (Highland) Goodman of Buffalo, Minn.; two sons, Donny (Cooky) Collins of Jonesboro and David (Jeanie) Collins of Huntsville, Ala.; eight grandchildren, Julie (Dan) Orlando of Ramsey, Minn., Spring (Keith) Sneed of Caraway, Phil (Rachel) Goodman of Redmond, Wash., Summer Collins of Caraway, Sonny Collins of Caraway, Chris Collins of Huntsville, Ala., Kyle Dowless of Caraway, and Shane (Sherry) Dowless of Jonesboro; eight great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Funeral services were 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., with Pastor Ron Madison and Mr. Highland Goodman officiating. Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro in charge of arrangements.

Active pallbearers include Sonny Collins, Chris Collins, Phil Goodman, Dan Orlando, Keith Sneed, Herb Justinger, Ray Garner, Larry Singleton, and Randy Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers include the men of St. Bernard's Village, Dr. Donald Guinn, Bobby Beck, Tom Kelly and Harvie's adult men's Sunday school class at Mt. Zion.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Mt. Zion Baptist Church Building Fund, 228 Mt. Zion Rd., Huntsville, Ala. 35806, or Word of Life Fellowship, 13247 Word of Life Drive, Hudson, Fla. 34669.

Online registry is www.emersonfuneralhome.com.