Leo COLLINS Obituary

Leo Willard Collins, 87, passed away peacefully at home in Spokane, Washington, on May 22, 2025, with his beloved grandson, Jacob, by his side. After a courageous battle with prostate cancer, he departed this life the way he lived it-on his own terms and surrounded by love.

Born on October 21, 1937, in West Virginia to Ora Osburn Collins and Sadie Agnes Collins, Leo grew up in a large and close-knit family. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Arlene Hassel; and his brothers, William E. Collins, Ora Edgel Collins, Denzil Collins, Virgil Collins, Marlin Collins, Carl Collins, and John Paul Collins. He is survived by his sister, Janet Elaine Piper.

He married the love of his life, Michal Anna Cooper, on November 24, 1968. Together, they built a rich and loving life filled with family, laughter, and a deep, abiding partnership. He was a devoted father to his daughters: Elizabeth Jane (Ian Garrison), Anna Christina (Patrick Andreachi), Angela Collins (Brett Stevenson), and Lorraine (Jeff Dymond).

His legacy lives on through his grandchildren: Ethan Repp, Laina Delgado, Deidre Delgado, Hawkeye Delgado, Jacob A. Thompson, Tiger Thompson, Dexter Thompson, and Sawyer Thompson. He is also remembered with love by his late granddaughter, Ashton Elizabeth Bertsch (married to John Bertsch), and his great-grandson, Richard Bertsch.

After living in several places, Leo and Michal settled in Orting, Washington, where they raised their family on a small farm filled with animals and memories. He worked at Boeing calibrating precision instruments, a job that spoke to his steady hands and sharp mind. Following his retirement, he moved to Spokane, where he embraced his golden years with curiosity and passion.

Whether on the golf course, in his garden, or at his sewing machine quilting, he never stopped learning or creating. He delighted in moving things around the garden-sometimes just to drive Michal a little crazy-and was always inventing clever tools or solutions to make the garden more fruitful.

A lover of technology and a lifelong learner, he took classes well into his later years, journaled faithfully (and printed out those journals every year), and took more photos than anyone else we knew. He wasn't religious in the traditional sense, but he believed in the power of prayer and lived a deeply meaningful life grounded in love, thoughtfulness, and quiet faith.

He was adored by friends and family alike-known for his bravery, sense of humor, and boundless generosity. His love for his wife and family was the guiding light of his life.

Though we mourn his loss, we celebrate the richness of the life he lived and the deep imprint he left on all of us. His legacy will live on in gardens that flourish, stories well told, inventions that still surprise us, and in the hearts of everyone who loved him.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no formal memorial service. Leo believed that time is best spent with the living, and he asked that those who wish to honor his memory do so by cherishing their loved ones, sharing stories, tending a garden, learning something new, or simply spending time together.