Nellie Collins

Nellie Naomi Collins, 99, formerly of Holton, died Nov. 9, 2014 in Wichita.

She was born Dec. 13, 1914 in Mercier, Kan., the daughter of Oscar M. and Bessie E. (Teeter) Stewart. Nellie attended school in Horton and Morrill and was a graduate of Stewart’s Beauty School in Topeka.

On Jan. 22, 1938, she married Elmer G. “Joe” Hartman. He preceded her in death on Jan. 29, 1962. On Dec. 18, 1964, she was united in marriage to Lt. Col. Robert S. Collins, Ret. The couple made their home in Goff until his death in 1984. Nellie then moved back to Holton.

Nellie held many memberships, including: Goff Chapter No. 43, Order of the Eastern Star-Goff (serving as Worthy Matron in 1970), charter member and past president of the Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1367, a life member of the Good Sam Camping Club and was a member of First Baptist Church in Holton.

She is survived by: her step-sons, Robert Collins, Jr. and Gordon Collins, both of Texas; a daughter-in-law, Jean Ann Hartman of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

Nellie was also preceded in death by her son, Glenn Hartman; daughter, Sharon Hartman; her brothers, Harold, Leo and Eugene Stewart; and one infant sister, Helen Joyce Stewart.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery at Goff. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services beginning at 1 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped, Inc. (KETCH) c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.