Josiann Noel Collins, was born on June 28, 1946, on the family farm near Chariton, the daughter of Shalmer Lynn and Argentine (Giroud) Avitt. She graduated from Knoxville High School in 1964. She attended Indian Hills Community College and Buena Vista College where she received her teaching degree.
On Feb. 8, 1964, she was united in marriage to Larry Collins at the Christian Church in Knoxville. After their marriage they made their home in Keswick, Iowa, and had one son, Timothy.
Josie worked for the Keokuk County Home in Sigourney for a year, at Amana Refrigeration for 19 years, before becoming an adult education specialist for SIEDA Headstart in Ottumwa, and for the last year she was a grant writer and curriculum coordinator for SIEDA Headstart.
She was a past member of the Keswick Ladies Aid. She loved to teach, cook, do ceramics, work with her flowers and children’s ministry. Josie died on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at her home in Keswick.
She is survived by her husband, Larry of Keswick; a son Timothy (Betty) Collins of Cleveland, Miss.; three grandchildren- Lauren Ashley, Taylor and Rebecca Collins all of Cleveland, Miss.; her parents Shalmer Lynn and Argentine Avitt; two brothers: Bernie (Marilynn) Avitt and Robert (Pat) Avitt of Knoxville; many nieces and nephews, and her dogs Scooby, Little Bit and Reno.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English, Iowa. Rev. John Tunnicliff officiated. Burial was in the Sorden Cemetery, near Keswick.
A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
Obituaries
February 11, 2010
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