Helen L. Collins

Lake City - Helen Louise Collins, of Lake City and formerly of Dearborn and Howell, passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was 82.

Helen was born on September 11, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan to Marshall and Lois (Mooney) Brown. She grew up downstate, attending and graduating from Taylor Center High School.  Helen entered into marriage with Wayne "Keith" Collins on October 27, 1962 in Allen Park, MI, celebrating nearly 63 years together. 

Helen was the epitome of a stay at home mom. Family is what she cherished most. There is nothing she wouldn't do to love and support Keith, maintain their home, care for her daughters and grandsons. She worked tirelessly as the matriarch without ever expecting anything in return. She enjoyed tending to her flowers and in years past loved to travel, camp, and explore the country with her husband and girls. Helen and her family spent decades visiting "up north" and several years back made Lake City their permanent home following Keith's retirement.  She will be deeply missed by her loving family, the Lake City community, many friends and those who passed by their home near Missaukee County Park.

Helen is survived by her husband, Wayne "Keith" Collins of Lake City; her two daughters, Kari (Matthew) Bellows of Lake City, and Kim (David) Richard of Crystal Lake, IL; five grandsons, Kamron (Jill) Helsel, Zachary (Sophia) Richard, Kalep Helsel, Matthew (Allison) Richard, and Kolby (Ashtyn) Helsel; six great-grandsons, Kyler, Kollin, Wayne, Westyn, Kohen, and Ezra; her brother, Tommy (Chris) Brown of Indiana; as well as many other loving family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Celebration of life will be held at The Grove Church in Lake City, on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 11am, with visitation for friends and family one hour prior. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in care of her daughter, Kari Bellows, to replenish and revive Helen's beautiful flower garden at home in the spring. 

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.HoldshipFuneralHomes.com

The family is being served by the Young-Holdship Funeral Home.  

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