Date of Birth
Jan 20,1947
Date of Death
Jan 24,2008
JAMES A. "Cooter" COLLINSAge 61 of rural Elburn, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday morning January 24, 2008 when he suffered an apparent heart attack at his home. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born January 20, 1947 in Wynne, Arkansas, the son of Garland E. and Juanita (Coleman) Collins. He grew up in Arkansas until the late sixties when his family moved to the St. Charles area. Though his family later returned to Arkansas, Jim remained in the Fox Valley where he was employed at United Parcel as a computer programmer and later at the Richards Wilcox Company. He was also a programming consultant with a number of companies around the valley. Married and divorced twice, Jim felt like a lost soul when he met Barbara. Each of them needed someone special to fit the empty places in their lives and in time, they discovered that those empty spaces were perfectly filled when they were together. Jim was Die Hard Cubs Fan and equally fond of the Greenbay Packers! He may not have been good at golf but that never kept him from enjoying the game. Along with his thoughts, Jim loved to curl up with a good science fiction novel.The happiest years of Jim’s life were spent with Barbara and her son Jay. Jim was especially fond of Jay whose special needs made it difficult to communicate in ordinary ways with ordinary people. Jim and Jay overcame all of that and together, they were extraordinary ! The two of them communicated with "rambunctious humor" that was founded on a deep trust and love. SURVIVORS He is survived by two sisters:Jan (James) Heath and Judy (Leon) Childress, both of Arkansas;his best friend, Barbara Anderson, her son Jay and her family, the Anderson’s of Main Street Road (who Jim affectionately referred to as "The Clandersons");one step-son, Jeremy (Jamie) and one precious granddaughter, Kaylynn. He leaves one uncle, Lee Collins of Michigan as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition he is survived by a family of friends and a ton of memories at Ray’s Tavern, St. Charles where they knew him best as "Cooter". PRECEDED He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Garland Collins.VISITATION / FUNERAL A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life, will be held Monday evening at 7pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. A brief visitation will precede the service from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Jim’s name to benefit Jay and autism. Memorials checks may be made to the James Collins Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 1-800-8-CONLEY.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 6-7Pm on Monday January 28. With a service to celebrate his life to be held at 7:00PM.
Following cremation a private family commital service will follow at a later date.