Eddie Browning Collins

Eddie Browning Collins

February 4,1932 - September 17, 2024

Eddie Browning Collins was born in Colson Kentucky to J. Don & Anne Everidge Collins. Eddie B, as he was affectionately called, loved his parents and little sister Arlayne Francis. He was always proud of his Appalachian heritage and his many friends, family and memories growing up in Letcher County.

He met a brown eyed beauty in high school, and they shared their first kiss on the 4th of July under the fireworks in the sky! Eddie married this girl, his high school sweetheart, Sue Carol Auton on June 2, 1956. They enjoyed 55 years of marriage until Sue passed away on December 10, 2011.

Sue and Eddie enjoyed a 1 in 1000 relationship, so we thought! A few years later Eddie met a "young lady" named Tommie Jane. Both having lost their spouses to cancer, they began to see each other and before we knew it, we were having a wedding! I remember when Dad asked us kids if it would bother us if he married Tommie? We told him he would be a fool if he let her get away! Eddie and Tommie married on October 12, 2013. They enjoyed 10 years together until Eddie passed away. Tommie was one of the greatest things to come into our Dad’s life and is a blessing to all of us!

Eddie and Sue had three children, Lynn (Bret) Morris, Mark (Devy) Collins and Randy Collins. We had a blessed home with many wonderful memories! Eddie cherished his role as a grandfather. He treasured his time with the grandkids and loved being their Pawpaw, never failing to give lots of wagon rides and having plenty of ice cream and snacks on hand.

He had a special bond with all of his Whitesburg High School alumni. He enjoyed the many class reunions throughout the years!

Eddie was passionate about his job as a Safety Engineer at Vought Corporation for more than 30 years.

Eddie was an active committed member of his church throughout his whole life. The last church where he was active was Bisbee Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, as well as many other roles. Eddie was the master of evangelism. He always had a pew full of visitors that he had invited to church.

Eddie/Dad/ Pawpaw will always be remembered for his pumpkin pies, zucchini muffins, his giving heart and the love he had for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We couldn’t have asked for a better person (no matter the role) to walk through this life with. We will miss him every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents J. Don and Anne Collins, his first wife Sue Auton Collins, son-in-law Bret Morris, and his great granddaughter Noah Wren Bowes. He is survived by his wife Tommie Jane Collins, daughter Lynn Morris, sons Mark (Devy) Collins, Randy Collins, bonus sons George Smith, Clifford Smith, and Russell Smith as well as grandchildren: Natalie and Jonathan Borth, Rachel & Jacob Wendt, Devia and Jeff Bowes, Jeremy Collins, Karrigan and Jordon Langrebe, Kendall and Josh Ames, Ruston and Allison Collins, Britton and Cole Taylor, Carlie Collins, Chad Collins and Christan Collins, Marcus Smith, Michelle Wood-Ginn, Chance Smith, and Megan Anaboe. Eddie also has 20 great grandchildren.

Eddie’s celebration of life will be held on October 5, 2024, at Skyvue Funeral Home in Mansfield, TX. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM, and services at 11:00 AM. The Kentucky service and internment will be at Everidge Funeral Home in Whitesburg Kentucky. Service will be October 10th at 11:00 AM, with internment immediately following at Green Acres Cemetery. From his granddaughter Kendall: He was such an amazing Godly man that would do anything he could to help his family, friends and strangers. But in his eyes, nobody was a stranger. He was a brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved his family so fiercely. I know this is not truly Goodbye, because we will meet again one day.