Earl Ray Collins

Notes:

Earl Ray Collins, 79, 167 Sunrise Drive, Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord Saturday, January 30, 2010, in the Johnson City Medical Center.

A native of Carter County, he was a son of the late Maynard R. and Carma Williams Collins. Mr. Collins was a retired employee of Mapes Piano String Company after 50 years of service. He was an active member of Hunter United Methodist Church. He was a member of the American Legion and the Unaka Rod & Gun Club. His hobbies were woodworking, gardening and bird watching. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

Survivors include his wife of fifty six years: Kathryn Nidiffer Collins. Five Sisters: Bernie Pierce, Lola Bowers, Novella Heaton and Betty Edwards and husband Andy all of Elizabethton and Myrtle Gillian and husband Ken, Kingston, Tenn. Four Brothers: Willard, Arthur, Luther and Bob Collins, all of Elizabethton. Sisters and Brothers-in-law: Jay & Katie Nidiffer, Jack & Joann Perkins, and Link & Carolyn Nidiffer of Elizabethton. Special cousin: Jan Showalter of Johnson City. Several nieces & nephews.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Hunter United Methodist Church with the Rev. Roger Mathess officiating. Interment will follow in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Music will be provided by David Estep, Pianist, Marilyn Bowers, Organist and Katrina Nidiffer, Soloist. Active Pallbearers who are requested to assemble at the church at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday will be: C. H. Taylor, Lee Gay, Bill Cline, Emerson Smith, Dean Boone, Paul Waters, Chris Guy, Jimmy Bowling and Clarence Reed. Honorary pallbearers will be: Tony Bowers, Roger Hamm, Dwight Reece, Charlie Jones, Hugh Buckles and his church family. Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion & Tn. National Guard. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Friends may also call at the residence.

Earl married Kathryn Nidiffer about 1952. Kathryn (daughter of Andrew J. Nidiffer and Josephine N. Nave) was born about 1932 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 14 Jul 2017 in Washintgon County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maynard married Carma Williams about 1928 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Carma (daughter of Isaac Williams and Theodocia Bowers) was born on 3 May 1908 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 26 Aug 2008 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Pearl Bowers Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Carma Collins - ELIZABETHTON
Carma Collins, age 100, a wonderful mother, formerly of Blue Springs Community, went home to be with her Lord Tuesday, August 26, 2008 from Hermitage Health Center, Elizabethton, following an extended illness.

Mrs. Collins was a Carter County native, born to the late Isaac and Doshia Bowers Williams. She was a charter member of Nidiffer's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.

Mrs. Collins was a homemaker and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard C. Collins; one sister: Lola Oliver; and one brother: Grover Williams.

Survivors include five daughters and two sons-in-law: Burna Pierce, Lola Bowers, Novella Heaton, all of Elizabethton, Myrtle and Ken Gilliam, Kingston, TN, Betty and Andy Edwards, Elizabethton; five sons and two daughters-in-law: Willard G. Collins, Arthur and Christine Collins, Earl R. and Katherine Collins, Luther L. Collins, Bobby D. Collins, all of Elizabethton; thirteen grandchildren: Maggie Nidiffer, Joann Reed, Sandy Huskins, Teresa Hampton, Teddy Collins, Steven Heaton, Bobby Collins, Jackie Collins, Lawrence Pierce, Michael Collins, all of Elizabethton, Patti Kerkendall, Atlanta, GA, Missy Lane, Harriman, TN, Jennifer Raymer, Kingston, TN; twenty-one great-grandchildren: Brent Huskins, Lacey Huskins, Chelsie Huffman, Hollie Huffman, Elizabeth Davis, Jon Hampton, Jeff Pierce, Greg Pierce, Dustin Collins, Davey Jack Collins, Jacklyn Collins, Macey Collins, Brandon Collins, Bryant Collins, Colby Raymer, Dawson Lane, Corey Raymer, Kailey Lane, Tammy Blevins, Robin Carpenter, Jill Hart; three great-great-grandchildren: Steven Oliver, Michael Carpenter and Jackson Davis. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

The Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Collins will be conducted at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 28, in the Tetrick Funeral Home Riverside Chapel with Rev. Clate Briggs and Rev. Bill Watson officiating. Music will be under the direction of J.C. and Friends.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday in the chapel prior to the service. Friends may also call at the residence of her daughter, Novella Heaton, 145 Southgate Dr., Elizabethton, at other times.

The graveside service and interment will be at 10 a.m. Friday, August 29, in Pearl Bowers Cemetery. Everyone is welcome to meet the family at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Lawrence Pierce, Steve Heaton, Michael Collins, Teddy Collins, Bobby Collins and Jackie Collins. Honorary pallbearers will be Link Nidiffer, Jay Nidiffer, Jack Perkins, Mack Collins, Jack Collins, Donald Collins, James Williams, Wendell Williams, David Lane, Jamie Raymer, Joe and Brenda Collins, the staff and employees of Hermitage Health Center, members of Nidiffer's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, Jean Collins, Loretta Peters, Erma Broyles, Joann Dean, Jeanette Bradshaw, Dr. Robert Walter and Dr. Stanley Vermillion.

A special "thank you" is extended to Hope Street, Braiden Smith and Robert Duggen for all their love and care extended to Mrs. Collins.

Grant married Maude U. Bowers on 26 Jun 1898 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Maude was born in Mar 1880 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died about 1904 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Pearl Bowers Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Theodocia Bowers about 1896 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Theodocia (daughter of Alfred R. Bowers and Rebecca S. Carriger) was born about 1876 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1880 Carter County, TN census, Jackson's mother Evaline was living in his household.

Jackson married Rhoda Catherine Heaton about 1879 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Rhoda (daughter of John William Heaton and Catharine Berry "Katie" Van Huss) was born on 20 Sep 1861 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 10 Mar 1949 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Bowers Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Elizabethton Star," Friday, March 11, 1949
Rhoda Collins Dies, leaving 159 Direct Descendants
Mrs. Rhoda Catherine Collins, 87, died at her home on Route 1 Thursday at 12:15 a.m. after a five weeks illness. She was a member of the Siam Baptist Church. Her husband, Jackson C. Collins preceded her in death in 1928.
She is survived by two sons, J. K. Collins and G. C. Collins, both of Route 1, Elizabethton; four daughters, Mrs. Callie McKernan, and Mrs. S. B Randolph, both of Route 1, Elizabethton, Mrs. Kate Dougherty and Mrs. Lue Masters both of Erwin; 45 grandchildren and 98 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Miss Nancy Heaton or Route 1, Elizabethton.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Siam Baptist Church with the Rev. Willis B. Allen officiating, assisted by the Rev. Johnnie Riddle and the Rev. R. C. Stockton. Burial will be in the Bowers Cemetery on Route 2.
Active pallbearers will be the great grandchildren, Donald, Floyd, Richard and Willard Collins, Harold Harvey, Ted Edwards, Charles Lipford and Bill Carpenter.
The great granddaughters will serve as flower bearers.
The body will be removed to the home today at 3:30 p.m. from the chapel of the Tetrick Funeral Home where it will remain until 1:00 p.m. Sunday when it will taken to the church to lie in state until the funeral hour.

Notes:

Married:
In the 1880 Carter County Census, Jackson's mother, Evaline Collins, was living with him.

Arthur married Sarah Jane Buckles about 1865 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Sarah was born on 30 Aug 1845 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 11 Mar 1926 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Buckles Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Elizabethton Star," Sunday, September 5, 1937
ALFORD BOWERS
Alford Bowers, age 81, died Saturday morning at his home at Watauga Valley. Funeral services will be conducted from the Blue Springs Christian Church this afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with the Rev. John Mathew officiating. Interment will be in the Bowers Cemetery.
Mr. Bowers is survived by five children: A. J. Bowers, D. S. Bowers, Mrs. Cordie Nave, Mrs. Lucy Williams, and Miss Mary Bowers, all of Watauga Valley; also twenty-seven grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren.

Alfred married Rebecca S. Carriger on 13 Oct 1876 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Rebecca was born on 8 May 1860 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 9 Jan 1897 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Some records indicate that her maiden name was Cable.