Lela Collins

ARGYLE Lela Collins, 89, of Mahaffy Road, died Wednesday evening, June 25, 2008, at the Glens Falls Hospital. Born at home in Argyle on Oct. 21, 1918, she was the oldest daughter of the late Wayne and Mina (Brace) Fowler. Lela was a graduate of Argyle Central School. She married Homer E. Collins of Kingsbury on Aug. 14, 1954, at the Argyle United Methodist Church. Homer died on July 5, 2007. She worked as a housekeeper for private residences including homes in Katonah and Glens Falls, N.Y., then for General Electric in Fort Edward during World War II. She later worked for Grand Union in Fort Edward, New York Telephone and Adirondack Farmers (later Agway) of Fort Edward. Helping her parents, brothers and sisters, her children and grandchildren was very important to her throughout her life. Nothing suited her better than to host a holiday or impromptu dinner with as many relatives that could attend (the more the better for Lee!). She enjoyed baking pies, rolls, cookies, getting lunch or dinner ready for the men as they worked in the fields, assisting her parents with their Orchard Hill Turkey Farm business, raising a large garden, canning and freezing vegetables or fruit, assisting her husband in raising registered Holsteins and their own beef, later putting up honey from her husband's hives, and caring for her grandchildren. Lee was an active and life-long member of the Argyle United Methodist Church including being Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and organizer of many election night turkey dinners. She was also a past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, an active member and past president of the Argyle Methodist Women's group and the Argyle Improvement Association. In addition to her parents and husband of 52 years, her little sister, Corinne, her brothers, Richard and Roger Fowler, predeceased her. Survivors include her son, Douglas Collins and his wife, Roberta, of Argyle; and her daughter, Diane Ellmers and her husband, George, of Fort Edward; Survivors also include her much beloved grandchildren: Garth and Cameron Collins of Argyle, and Lauren and Janessa Ellmers of Fort Edward; her brothers, Paul Fowler and his wife, Rena, of Denver, Colo., and Ervin Fowler and his wife, Jane, of Queensbury, and Robert Fowler and his wife, Joanne, of Argyle; her sisters, Kay Gillmor and her husband, Nevin, of South Glens Falls, Phyllis Scribner of Glens Falls, and Marilyn Ward of Fort Ann; her sister-in-law, Betty Fowler of Argyle; as well as many nieces, nephews and special cousins. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 27, at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main St., Argyle. A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2008, at the Argyle United Methodist Church, Sheridan Street, Argyle with the Rev. Deb Peacock, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Argyle. Following the burial, a reception will take place at the Argyle United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Lela's name to the Argyle United Methodist Church, C/O Memorial Fund Treasurer, 5184 state Route 40, Argyle, NY 12809 or to the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, 12 Warren St., Glens Falls, NY 12801.