Mary Collins

Clyde, Mary Collins, 98, passed away peacefully September 19th at Skyland Care Center in Sylva. Born in Crossville Tennessee on February 13, 1916 to the late Lon & Nell Smith, she was one of 9 children. Mary moved to Clyde in 1955 with her family and lived there for over 50 years. As an accomplished seamstress, Mary had clients from throughout Haywood County and Western North Carolina. She was also an avid reader and the Bookmobile came to the Collins house as the community stop for many years. Mary was fondly known for baking old timey teacakes and for making and giving out popcorn balls at Halloween. Preceded in death by her husband of fifty-three years, Joe passed away in 1995. In addition to her husband, her 8 brothers and sisters also preceded her in death. Mary is survived by her son Herbert Collins of Atkinson, NC; daughter Cathie Hooper (Whit) of Sylva; daughter Lynn Collins (Ron) of Maggie Valley; daughter-in-law Anita White of Myrtle Beach and step daughter Patsy Castelow (Bill) of Newport News, VA; granddaughters Brooke Senter (Kirk) of Mills River; Brandi Anderson (Parker) of Jacksonville, FL; six step grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Friday, September 26th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Wells Events & Reception Center in Waynesville. The family will host a private celebration of life on Saturday, October 25th at Collins Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Memorials may be made to the Haywood County Public Library at 678 South Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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