Catherine B "Kaye" Collins

Plattsburgh Catherine B. "Kaye" Collins, 89, died June 18, 2008 at Clinton County Nursing Home of Alzheimer's Disease. She was born August 9, 1918 in Plattsburgh and was daughter of George and Elizabeth Bruce. She was formerly of Saranac and was married to Edmund "Buster" Collins in June 1937. They had 8 children, 6 sons and 2 daughters. They operated Saranac Oil Service together for over 25 years. After her husband's premature death at age 53, she found herself a widow at age 49 with 4 children still living at home. Though many thought that a woman could not do it, she kept the business going and pulled the family out of deep debt due to her husband's extensive hospital bills. Surviving are 5 sons and their wives and 2 daughters and their husbands: Bruce and Sharron, Holmes Beach, FL; Terry and Joan, Ballston Spa; H. James and Jacalyn, West Chazy; Barry and Shelia, Malone; Michael and Kathy, Peru; Carolyn and Kenneth Tedford, Watertown; Janice & Timothy Grant, Monte Vista, CO. Besides her children, she is survived by a sister, Dorothy Miner and 15 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband in February 1968, her son John "Jack", and her granddaughter Cathy Lieberman. Also by her brothers, Edgar, George, Harry, and Clarence Bruce, her 1/2 brother George Manley, and 1/2 sister Margaret Coopy. Kaye liked to travel. She left for California in 1972 and returned to NY in 1976. While in California she worked with people to stop their addictions to smoking with a new innovative therapy. She had a curiosity for new religions and a zest for life that could only be quenched by the next new thing to come along. Upon returning to NY, she went to college in her late 50's to become a Certified Alcoholism Counselor in 1978. She loved her job and was very good at it and was even awarded Counselor of the Year in 1984. She worked to help alcoholics regain their sobriety for 10 years before eventually retiring, but she never retired from helping those in need. If a friend wanted to visit their children in the mid-west, she was always up to the trip in her little camper. One of her joys was making trips with her son Michael in his tractor trailer, even doing a coast-to-coast run once with him and his wife. She was a very spirited woman, willing to try anything twice, and she couldn't comprehend the meaning of no. She will be sorely missed. She was a member of Saranac United Methodist Church. There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at Saranac United Methodist Church at 10:30 on Saturday, June 28. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saranac United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Alzheimer's Association in her name. Arrangements were entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY. Please make online condolences at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com