Howard "Skip" Collins

Howard Leon “Skip” Collins was born on August 23, 1945 in Goodland, KS to Howard Beryl and Alta Lucy (Cambridge) Collins and passed away at the age of 74 on March 29, 2020 in Osage City, KS.

Skip graduated from Weskan High School and proudly served his country for three years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War; doing a tour as a Radarman aboard the USS Lowry. After returning home from the service, Skip worked the family farm and earned his private pilot’s license.  As a kid, he always dreamed of flying and he was very proud to have accomplished that dream. He was also an active member of the Sharon Springs Masonic Lodge.

In 1976, he married Karen Lee McCann and to this union two children were born, Natalie Kay and Christopher Ray. He lived most of his life in Weskan, KS until his health forced him to move closer to his son in Osage City.

Skip was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Phyllis Hurley and Janice Mote, and brothers-in-law Raymond Baehler, Keith Magwire, and OD Mote.

He is survived by his sister Linda Baehler of Weskan; his daughter Natalie, son-in-law Mike, and grandchildren Lauren and Sebastian Rush of Jenks, OK; his son Chris, daughter-in-law Jessica, and grandchildren Elijah, Connor, and Colton Collins of Osage City, KS; and former wife Karen Collins of Tulsa, OK.

Skip was a strong, caring man who would do anything for his family and friends. He enjoyed fishing, took great pride in his yard, and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud. Skip loved the land that he farmed and the country that he served and he will be dearly missed.

**Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Howard's family will have a private family graveside in the Weskan Cemetery, Weskan, KS.**