Larry J. Collins

Larry Joe Collins was the youngest of twelve children, son of Nevins J. “Cotton” and Jessie Faye (Cody) Collins, was born August 18, 1946, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and departed this life May 27, 2020 at 5:35 PM at his home in Mountain Grove. He was 73 years, 9 months, and 9 days of age.

Larry grew up in various places in Missouri and Kansas but graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1964. He played and excelled in sports, especially football, while in high school and won various awards.

Larry’s first job was with Brown Shoe Company in Mountain Grove and then he moved on to work at Dodd’s Truck Line in St. Louis, Missouri. He later worked on the truck dock and in management for Consolidate Freightways in St. Louis for many years.

Larry married Trevia Robertson in 1967 and they made St. Louis their home for 46 years. Two children were born to this union, Michelle and Bradley. Larry and Trevia retired and moved to Mountain Grove in 2013. Larry loved his family and was a devoted husband and father. After years of enjoying playing golf and helping with his children’s sports and other activities, he loved to just stay home and enjoy tv and his grandkids.

Besides his parents, Larry was preceded in death by four brothers, Lee, Bob, Dean, and Charles, four sisters, Nolene Collins, June Hopkins, Corrine Sanders, and Betty Rutter, and his father-in-law, Orville Robertson.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Trevia Collins of Mountain Grove, Missouri, his daughter, Michelle Ratka (Chester) of Troy, Illinois, his son, Bradley Collins (Christina) of Roxanna, Illinois, eleven grandchildren, Kevin Ratka (Elizabeth), Amanda Fitch (Ryan), Christopher Collins, Jonathan Yon, Ryan Collins, Stefanie Yon, Brianna Collins, Justin Powell, Shelby Powell, Nicholas Ratka, Nathan Ratka, four great-grandchildren, Bentley Ratka, Riley Ratka, Brandon Collins, and Nicholas Yon, three brothers, Jack Collins (Carolyn), Jim Collins (Sharyl), and Fred Collins (Deanna), his mother-in-law, Virginia Robertson, and his sister-in-law, Tamara Berry.

Larry will be missed by his loving family and friends. He would do anything for anyone while his health would allow. He had the greatest and most caring nursing staff at Three Rivers Hospice. The thanks to this group is impossible to express.