Kay Dell Collins (Smith)

Kay Dell Collins (Smith), 67, of Missoula, passed away on Sunday, January 10th, 2016 at home, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
She was born on May 23, 1948 in Hamilton, MT to George and Verna Smith. The family moved to Missoula in 1953 when her father took a job at the Flour Mill. As a young girl she played with her seven siblings and the Lehman family who lived next door. She attended Missoula County High School, dreamed of becoming a horse jockey, and one day having a house with a white picket fence and six children.

Soon after high school she became married and had two wonderful children, Farron and Tiana Ohl who she worshiped. Her dreams came true later in life, when she met her husband and loving best friend Ralph L. Collins at Davis Transportation, where they both worked. The two families become one, and the blended family became a household with six children and she moved into a home with a white picket fence. Ralph and Kay were married on February 16th, 1990, just six weeks after meeting and spent 25 amazing years together. Ralph was a truck driver, and they often hit the open road together. They traveled the United States, and made memories that she cherished for the rest of her life.

Soon her family grew when their 6 children had grown and started their own families. This is when she earned the title of Granny. There has never been a more perfect person to call Granny than Kay. Her children and grandchildren become the light in her eye and filled her heart more than she could have ever hoped, until she had great grandchildren, then her heart was filled that much more. When God made her, it was to show us how to be a grandparent, a wife, a mother, and a best friend. She cared deeply for people and always knew how to make them smile.
Kay had been an active member in the community for the last 15 years, and felt a deep calling to help Montana Veterans. Kay was the Missoula Coordinator for Montana Supporting Soldiers, and over the course of the last 15 years she personally taped and shipped more than 5, 000 care packages to deployed troops, and had recently joined Missoula Joining Forces.

Kay enjoyed gardening, traveling, being a volunteer, and a short order cook for her family and grandchildren. She lived her life like a horse jockey; she took her days here on earth by the reins and lived her life to the fullest. When she was knocked down she would get back on that horse, and would always be pulling the people around her up along with her. She will be greatly missed by many, but Granny will have a spot in so many peoples heart that she will never be forgotten.

She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Verna Smith, her siblings Robert Smith, Lori Ann Smith, and Patricia Smith, along with her child Carla Collins, and grandchildren Farron Ohl Jr., and Danielle Collins.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph, and their children Farron and Susan Ohl, Bob and Tiana Campbell, Matt and Cheryl Collins, Jason Collins, and Mickey Collins. Her grandchildren Samantha, Alan, Kristy, Tyler, Katrina, Magen, Jarrod, Austin, Ashley, Taylor, Dylan, Tyson, Ryan, Garrett, Ashley, Kami, Kayla, Kolton, Kory, Kody, Justin, 6 great grandchildren and two on the way. Her siblings Roger Smith and his wife Barbra, Evritt Smith and his wife Julie, Carol Brodie, and Georgia Honey and numerous nieces and nephews. She also had an extended family that included the Lehman family, Bob and Larriet Schweikhardt, Krystal Roberts, Fred and Bonnie McDonald, and Debbie Popko.

Services will be held at Zootown Church at 3623 Brooks St. Missoula, MT, on Friday January 15th, 2016 at 1:00pm with light refreshments to immediately follow at the church. Please bring your favorite memory to share during the ceremony. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in her name to Montana Supporting Soldiers, The Valor House in Missoula, or Missoula Joining Forces.




Read Kay Collins ( Smith)'s Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.