Richard S. Collins
October 9, 1940 - November 26, 2019

Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello ,  AR 71657 11/30/2019 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Map & Directions Funeral Service Rose-Neath Funeral Home 2500 Southside Dr Shreveport ,  LA 71118 11/30/2019 at 11:00 a.m. Map & Directions   Graveside Oakland Cemetery N. Hyatt Monticello ,  AR 71655 12/1/2019 at 2:00 p.m. Map & Directions   Oakland Cemetery 800 North Hyatt St. Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions

A funeral service to celebrate and honor the life of Richard S. Collins, age 79, will be held at Rose-Neath South Funeral Home in Shreveport, LA, Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 11a.m. Visitation will be available at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath South Funeral Home. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery in Monticello, AR. A family visitation will also be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday evening at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello, AR.

Richard was born October 9, 1940, in Monticello, Arkansas. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Darlene Durmon and on May 15, 1959, they married. From that day forward they were known as “Richard and Darlene” and with the birth of his first grandchild they became “Honey and Papaw”, never one without the other. In 1960, he began a thriving career with Safeway Grocery quickly rising 8 years later to become manager of his first store. Having become the “Grocery Man”, in 1987, Richard and Darlene opened the doors to Collins Foods, in Bastrop, LA, a successful store which they owned and operated until their move to Shreveport in 1998.

It has often been said with the passing of a loved one that “a mighty oak has fallen.” While Tuesday morning the leaves may now have fallen from this tree, the mighty oak which was Richard Collins still stands. His roots went deep into a faith that he lived by and defined him. It strengthened the core of who he was. He was a kind, fun loving and generous soul that never met a stranger. Once Richard met you, he knew you, and you were his friend. He was always willing to offer grace and compassion to those around him. His branches provided shade to everyone he met. His life defined what it meant to be a deacon. Having been ordained in 1980, he provided servant leadership at both First Baptist Church in Bastrop as well as Brookwood Baptist Church in Shreveport. With a true servant’s heart, he led by example giving and serving through various missions and a committed time with his Tuesday morning prayer group.

He is preceded in death by his parents Clifton and Ruby Collins and sister Betty Owens.

Richard loved his family deeply. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of over 60 years, Mary Darlene “Honey”; daughter, Deanna Cassity; son, Ricky and wife Amy; grandchildren, Matthew Cassity and wife Katie Marie, Katie Zitlin and husband Joey, Christy Colvin and husband Cody, Laura Mitcham and husband Kaleb, Eric Collins and Jake Smith; as well as ten great grandchildren with the eleventh due in January; sister, Aundry Paschall; brothers-in-law, Jimmy Durmon and wife Pat, and Dwight Durmon and wife Kathy. Richard was uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. Extending from a life well-lived, he will be greatly missed by all.

In Richard’s honor, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either Brookwood Baptist Church or the local work of Mitch Bailey.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the ER and ICU staff at Willis-Knighton Pierremont for their kindness and compassion in caring for Richard.

While his physical life may be no more, the legacy of who he was will long live on through the countless lives that he touched. Online guestbook page www.stephensondearman.com.