Judith Carol Collins

Judy was born on January 13, 1952, and passed away on June 19, 2023, at her home near Derby, Kansas surrounded by her family. She was born in Garden City, Kansas to Robert E. and Ruth (Sharp) West.

Judy grew up on a family farm in southeast Lane County. She joined the First Christian Church at Dighton when she was 9 years old and continued to consider this her home church. She was active in Chi Rho, CYF, and singing in the church choir. In high school she was active in vocal music and volleyball and later continued singing in the choir at the church she attended while in college. Growing up on a farm she enjoyed roaming the pasture south of the house, playing in her and her sister Janis’s playhouse, and playing with the cats and their dog Wiggles. Even though she and Janis were farm girls they did not drive the tractors, combines, or trucks but instead helped their mother in the house preparing the meals.

As a youth she discovered her love for horses when her Uncle Ory bought Janis and her a pony named. Daisy. She was active in the Eager Beavers 4-H Club throughout grade and high school. She loved showing her horses, raising chickens, but she also learned to sew and cook with her mother as the 4-H project leader.

She attended grade school at Alamota and graduated from high school in Dighton with the class of 1970. She then attended Phillips University at Enid, Oklahoma getting a degree in Education in 1974. While there she met her future husband Larry R. Collins who was stationed at Vance Air Force Base. They were married in Dighton on August 10, 1974.

She and Larry had been married a little over a year when he was transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfort, Germany for 4 years. While Judy was waiting to follow him, she did substitute teaching at Lincoln Primary and the grade school in Dighton sometimes having her own nieces and nephew as students. After Judy joined Larry in Germany, she went on to pursue her master’s degree in special education from Boston University.

Following Larry’s tour in Germany they went to Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana where she taught English at the Junior College. They move to Derby, Kansas in 1985 where Larry was stationed at McConnel Air Force Base. Judy began her career in teaching special education with an emphasis on English and History at North High School in Wichita and later at West High School retiring in 2019 after over 30 years of teaching. During her teaching career she was also the head volleyball coach for many years. She touched countless students dedicating her life to special education helping those that couldn’t necessarily advocate for themselves.

It was after they moved to Derby that she and Larry became parents and were blessed with a daughter, Cassandra Morgan in 1989 who was their pride and joy. In 1997, they moved to their present home on 5 acres just east of Derby. With this move she was able to resume her love for horses and she taught Cassie how to ride. Judy enjoyed showing their horses with Cassie as members of the South-Central Stock Horse Association where she showed in Western Pleasure events. Through this organization she made many lifetime friends. She was also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association.

Judy and Larry enjoyed watching Cassie participate in 4-H, volleyball, basketball, and softball throughout her school years and were always on the sideline rooting for her. She and Larry especially enjoyed following Cassie in her equestrian events throughout high school and college where she was on the K-State equestrian team. They were always there to support her wherever her events might take her whether it be horse shows in Texas, Las Vegas, or arenas in Kansas.

Following Cassie’s wedding in 2017 to Cody Ikkala Judy and Larry enjoyed trips to Anchorage, Alaska where Cody was stationed with the Army. In August of 2019 her grandson Jaxton Hatch Ikkala was born. Cassie and Cody soon moved to Texas where Judy enjoyed spending time with Jaxson and playing monster trucks with him.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Ruth West and her husband Larry Collins. Her survivors include her daughter Cassie and husband Cody Ikkala of Oak Point, Texas and her grandson Jaxson Ikkala. Also surviving is her sister Janis Reed of Dighton, Kansas and several nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Visitation will be 4-6 PM Sunday, June 25, 2023, followed by funeral service at 10:30 AM on Monday, June 26, all at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday June 27, 2023, at 11:30 at the Dighton Cemetery, Dighton, Kansas.

Memorials in Judy’s name may be given to the South-Central Stock Horse Association or the First Christian Church of Dighton, Kansas in care of Smith Family Mortuaries, 1415 N Rock Rd., Derby, Kansas 67037.