CASEY – Anna Lee Collins, 85, of Terre Haute, Ind., and formerly of Casey, passed away Jan. 4, 2017, at her home. She retired at age 75 from the Women’s Correctional Facility at Indianapolis, Ind.
Private burial is at a later date. Markwell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Miss Collins was born June 28, 1931, at Yale, the daughter of the late Berl Emil Collins and Mamie Hickox Collins.
She is survived by her sister, Wanda June Robey of Greenup; and several nephews, nieces and friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Collins; and sisters, Eva Adeline Farley and Norma Jean Campbell.
Miss Collins was a 1948 graduate of Casey High School and during high school she worked as a waitress at the KZ Pharmacy. She became a teacher after graduating from Eastern Illinois Teacher’s College, Charleston, in 1954. She taught in several Illinois schools in Illinois and held many different jobs in her life. Her last employment was with the Women’s Correctional Facility at Indianapolis. She moved to Terre Haute, 2007 and volunteered at Union Hospital and the West Terre Haute Food Pantry.
She loved music and came from a musical family. She and her mother were song leaders at the Church of Christ, where they were members. She and her sisters, Norma Jean and Wanda sang as a trio through grade school and thigh school choir performing as a trio and in sextets. She learned the flute and piccolo from her father and played in the band and pep band in high school and four years with the Eastern marching band. In retirement, she played in city bands at Terre Haute and Brazil, Ind., and Marshall.
Miss Collins knew adversity in her life but survived and became a strong, independent, caring person and a loyal friend.
Online condolences may be left at www.markwellfuneralhome.com.