Donna M. Collins

Donna Mae Woodworth Collins, 66, of Missoula, passed away of cancer Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, at St. Patrick Hospital.

She was born April 3, 1948, in Missoula to Miles and Ruth Woodworth. She was raised on Missoula's Northside and came from a large, loving family.

She met and married Bill Ketron and together had one son, Timothy. They later divorced.

She then met and married James Collins, and together had Peter and Jeanette Collins. She was a homemaker and raised her children while James was a miner.

She enjoyed cooking and doing ceramics with her sisters and granddaughter. She also found great joy in attending and being her grandsons' No. 1 fan in the stands and on the sideline. She enjoyed her one-on-one sleepovers. Her house was never empty.

She was an amazing cook, which led to her becoming the head cook at Curley's Broiler, where she met and touched the lives of a number of friends. She was also the family's holiday baker; they all had to have Aunt Donna's rolls and pasties.

She went on to work in the timber industry, starting at Clawson's and then moving to Stimpson Lumber until they closed in 2006. She then earned her GED, which was a major accomplishment. In her words, "You are never too old." After receiving her GED, she retired, but soon found that she liked to work and stay busy. So, she took a job at the Hilton Garden Inn. She loved going to work, or like she would say, "going to see her second family." The family would like to give a special thank you to her Hilton family for keeping the smile on her face.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Norma and Pat; and nephew Mark. Survivors include her former husband and good friend, James Collins of Missoula; two sons and their families, Tim (Ann) Ketron and Pete Collins, and daughter, Jeanette (Demetrius), all of Missoula; granddaughter, Sabrina Ketron; grandsons, Timothy Jr. (Kristina), Derrius and Donivin; great-grandsons, Avery, Kaden, Braden and Baby Tytan; sisters, Margaret and Mary Lou of Missoula; brothers, Larry of Oregon, Mike of Wisdom and Jerry of Miles City; many nieces, nephews and a special niece who was like a daughter, Kristine; and best friend, Laurie.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn. The family suggests memorials be made to Team Up Montana, care of the Providence Cancer Center, St. Patrick Hospital. Condolences for the family may be sent to missoulafuneralhomes.com.
Read Donna Collins's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.