Francis Leon Collins

Francis Leon Collins, 82, of Chetopa, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.

He was born the son of George E. and Vendla V. (Swenson) Collins on September 19, 1936 in Edna, Kansas.  He graduated from Chetopa High School in 1954.  On February 22, 1959, he was married to Deloris J. Riley in Chetopa.

He worked for the former Gearhart Lumber Company in Oswego.  For a time he worked at the Chetopa Grain Elevator and also at the Leon and Patch Coal Mines.  For several years, he worked for Powerflame in Parsons until his retirement.

Francis especially enjoyed watching westerns, collecting pencil sharpeners and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Deloris, of the home; two daughters, Elizabeth "Vickie" (Duane) Banzet of Neodesha, Kansas and Patricia Burton of Columbus, Kansas; one son, Dale (Shawn) Collins of Jet, Oklahoma; one brother, Ray Collins of Chetopa; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-in-law, Dixie Collins.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Chetopa.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home.   Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church Chetopa or the Chetopa FFA.   These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.