Larry Collins

GRANBURY — Larry Lee Collins, 73, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2012, at his Pecan Plantation residence.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Acton Baptist Church, Dr. David Allen officiating. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Wiley Funeral Home in Granbury.
Memorials: Pecan Plantation VFD and EMS, 9518 Monticello Drive, Granbury, Texas 76049; MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, 713-792-3450 or 1-800-525-5841; or Acton Baptist Church, 3500 Fall Creek Hwy., Granbury, Texas 76049.
Larry Lee Collins was born Aug. 1, 1938, to Lee and Rhea Collins in Pattonsburg, Mo. The family later moved to Cameron, Mo., where Larry attended school. It was while attending high school in Cameron that Larry met the love of his wife, Betty Casper. Their first official date was Easter sunrise service in 1954. Larry and Betty married on Aug. 11, 1957.
Larry worked for a time at the Collins Motor Company owned by his father Lee. Larry began his career in the insurance industry working for Cameron Mutual Insurance Company. Career opportunities had them moving to Aurora, Colo., and then to Dallas, working in the reinsurance industry. In April 2004, Larry was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. After surgery to remove his kidney, Larry and Betty decided it was time to retire and they made a permanent move to Pecan Plantation in Granbury. Larry enjoyed his retirement, playing golf with his “golfing buddies” and traveling to some of his favorite places.
Larry fought a long, hard battle against cancer and never complained. Many times he was faced with new challenges in his battle but he refused to give up.
Larry was preceeded in death by his parents; brother, Denny Collins; and sister, Beverly Clark Peters.
Larry was a loving Christian man with a great personality and sense of humor and will be truly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors: Larry is survived by his loving wife, Betty; daughter, Cindy and husband, Dennis Niermann, of Richardson; son, Larry and wife, Laura Collins, of Benton, Ark.; daughter, Michelle Collins of McKinney; grandchildren, Stacie Niermann of Allen, Stephanie and husband, Jesse Wells, of Allen; brother, Ron and wife, Linda Collins; sister-in-law, Joy Ellen Collins; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000