Wednesday, February 15, at 8:38 p.m., with his family at his side, Jack L. Collins finished his assignment in this life. By the time you read these words he will have joined the great cloud of witnesses in heaven and the celebration of his life will have already begun.
He will be missed by those who loved him and remembered by all those whose lives he has touched. His legacy is defined by the principles that he lived by; work hard, laugh often, and love much. The reward of his 76 years of life was the love and admiration of his family. Last year he celebrated 50 years of marriage with his lifelong companion and love of his life. His characteristics and qualities are evident in three children he loved so much. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and they all adored their grandpa. The measure of his life is not in his many accomplishments or in the things he possessed but in the things that mattered most, his faith, his family, and his friends, too many to count.
He was born October 17, 1935 in Wellston and married the former Judy Fields, who survives, July 10, 1961. Also surviving are his children, Rev. J. C. (Lynn) Collins, Jerry Collins, and Jana (Jeremy) Carruth; grandchildren, Rev. Clayton (Holly), Christian, Megan, Jordan, Landyn, and Avery, all of Chillicothe; a sister, Norma (Ted) Adams, of Wellston; nieces, Suette Adams, April (Herb) Owrey, and nephew, Scott Adams. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary (Mamie) Collins and a grandson, Clark Thomas Collins.
Jack retired from The Chillicothe Gazette and a career in real estate sales. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and member of the VFW and American Legion. He attended church at Freedom House of Chillicothe.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Haller Funeral Home in Chillicothe with Rev. J. C. Collins officiating. Military graveside services, conducted by the Ross Co. Veterans Honor Guard, will follow in Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, and one hour prior to the service at Haller’s on Tuesday. His online memorial register is available at: www.HallerFuneralHome.com.