Mary Dell Lea Collins

Mary Dell Lea Collins, 74 of Burleson, a homemaker, died Sunday April 17, 2011, in Fort Worth. Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday in Mountain Valley Funeral Home Chapel. Interment: Union Hill Cemetery, Joshua. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home. Mary Dell Lea Collins was born Dec. 25, 1936, in Grayson County to Allen and Ethel Brandford Lea. She married James Martin Collins Jr. on Feb. 28, 1954, in Weatherford. She was the patriarch of the family and her advice was, "always remember that your spouse is your best friend." She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; four brothers; and a daughter, Judy Vavrin, on Feb. 16, 2009. Survivors: Husband, James M. Collins Jr.; daughters, Sharon Hawkins and husband, Rocky, of Joshua, Gay Morris and husband, Mike, of Burleson, Kathy McGlothlin and husband, Allan, of Cleburne; brother, Joe Charles Lea of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Randy Vavrin, Jeremy Hawkins, Amanda Rogers, Sarah Fleisher, Mason McGlothlin; great-grandchildren, Ibn, Ian, Brady, Savanah, Joshua, Alyssa, Cooper; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.