Velda Lorene Collins

Funeral services for Velda Lorene Collins, 74, of Lufkin were held Monday, January 28, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Michael Monterastelli officiating. Interment followed in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mrs. Collins was born November 20, 1933 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Velda M. (Meineke) and Carl L. Hofmeister, and passed away Friday, January 25, 2008 in a local nursing home after an extended illness.

Mrs Collins worked with her husband, M.F. Collins at Clark's Shoe Department for many years. She was a member of First Lutheran Church and had been a volunteer at Memorial Hospital for more than 10 years.

Mrs. Collins was a beloved wife and was cherished by her family. To know her was to love her.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, M.F. Collins of Lufkin; Sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Karen Collins of Kingwood and Alan and Sonya Collins of Chattanooga, Tennessee; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Greg Higgins of Lufkin; five grandchildren; two great- grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Fred and Wanda Matzenbacher of Lufkin and Carl and Yolanda Hotmeister of Carthage; and brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, H.P. and Evelyn Collins of Lufkin

She was preceded in death by her mother, Velda M. (Meineke) Hofmeister; father, Carl L. Hofmeister; twin sister, Velma; sister, Juanita Childs; and stepmother, lmogene Hofmeister.

Pallbearers were Dewayne Collins, Chris Collins, David Norton, Jack O'Connor, Bob Mann and Jerry Lumpkin. Honorary pallbearers will be the Brotherhood of the Cup.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice in the Pines 116, South Raguet Street, Lufkin, Texas 75904, First Lutheran Church, 1001, Atkinson Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75901 or the American Cancer Society, 212 Gene Samford Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904.