Gladys M. (Boyd) Collins

Gladys M. (Boyd) Collins passed away on April 22, 2009, leaving the world a better place than she found it.She is preceded in death by her siblings: Dorothy (Boyd) Smith, Ervin Boyd, Beulah “Boots” (Boyd) Larsen, and her parents, Omer and Clara Boyd. She is reunited in Heaven with her husband, Gordon M. Collins.A timeless and beloved matriarch, she is survived by her four children: Michelle (Collins) West, Michael Collins, Greg Collins, and Gwen (Collins) Waller; and 12 grandchildren.Gladys was born on July 29, 1925 in Indianapolis. Following her sister Boots, 19-year-old Gladys left Indiana to return to the Seattle area, where her family had lived for a brief time during her grade school years. Alongside her husband, whom she reunited with from her Redmond grade school and married in 1947, Gladys and her family made their home in several places throughout the United States before spending the last three decades in Bothell and Kirkland. While raising her children, Gladys was an ever-present participant in the schools and community.Passionate about politics, she was active in the Republican Party in California and Washington, helping launch the Snohomish County Republican Woman’s Club. Committed to supporting her community, she leaves a legacy of devoted volunteerism and social advocacy. With both quiet and bold faith, she served God and her church with tender commitment. A woman of endless talent, Gladys treasured the artful crafts of tatting, sewing, crocheting, and knitting; the devotion of caring for her garden; and the joy of creating in the kitchen. Gladys also delighted in writing short stories and articles and knew the fulfillment of being published.Words cannot convey how deeply Gladys was loved and how tenderly she is missed. Her family and friends are profoundly grateful for the gift of her life and legacy. At Gladys’ request, a private memorial service was held earlier this month.