Dee Collins

Dorothy Delores “Dee” Collins, beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, and Friend, passed away at the age of 87 on November 11th, 2023. Born on December 17th, 1935, Dee grew up in Mason City and Des Moines, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents Levi and Dorothy McPherren, her older brother, David, and her husband, Donald. She leaves behind her children, Teresa, Gregory and Bradley, along with her grandchildren, Scott, Rune (Kai), Sean, and Lucy.

As a child, Dee developed an unwavering love for family and friends, and became known for talents and expertise in many areas including music, literature, gardening, baking/cooking, teaching, a wide variety of crafts, and athletics. These passions grew into her daily routine until her last days surrounded by those she loved. Dee’s musical talent and discipline led her to attend Iowa State University as a piano major. She transferred to Drake University to study with a preeminent organist and known music scholars, earning an MFA in Sacred Music and Performance Organ with minors in Literature and Religion.

Post-graduation, she was among the first female faculty in Arts and Humanities at Teachers College, Columbia, MO. She met the love of her life, Donald Neal Collins, a graduate student in Agriculture and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri. They married in 1960, and soon after moved to the D.C. area, settling on Tarheel Way in Annandale, where they raised their three children. Dee transformed this house’s blueprint into a home that became part music hall, theater, bakery, sports arena, antique gallery, and horticulturist's dream. She aimed for perfection in all endeavors, sharing her talents among all who entered. Dee created a home full of love, music, and the joy of life – one in which all were welcomed and warmed, whether they were casual drop-ins or guests at one of the dozens of dinner parties hosted for Don’s K-street colleagues or with family and friends.

Dee also created routine “down time” to watch men’s college/NBA basketball, play card or board games (with additional family rules), and watch (and discuss) critically acclaimed movies and TV series on PBS. Dee was also an avid reader, museum, orchestra and ballet patron, and energetic conversationalist. Outside the routine, Dee loved the beach – particularly the hush and quaintness of the Outer Banks. She loved planning the family vacations and took respite in the ambiance and pace of beach life. Dee and Don created fond family memories and traditions in OBX that continue among her children and grandchildren.

Family was the core of Dee’s life, and teaching was a primary passion. She routinely identified and nurtured the talents of others, particularly in music, other arts, and crafts. Professionally, she taught music and piano throughout her adulthood. Her capacity to cultivate talent was evidenced by the many students who chose music as a primary vocation/avocation… and the creativity and generosity of her mentorship was evidenced by dozens of students’ “thank you” notes and recital programs saved among her instructional sheet music. Through all her activities, people will remember Dee’s keen wit and infectious laugh that complimented her warm spirit. These attributes, together with her intelligence and empathy, drew people to her. Dee’s oft-cited maxim, “Time with (family/friends) is our most precious gift,” was foundational to her enduring relationships. She enjoyed numerous life-long friendships originating in childhood, churches, hobby clubs, and the neighborhoods in which she lived. Dee held her friends close to her heart and never failed to let them know how important they were to her.

Dee’s husband, children, grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews loved her fiercely, as she did them. She planted pieces of herself into each child; Terri with patience and grace, Greg with creativity and enthusiasm, and Brad with empathy and intelligence. Her love for Don never faltered even through their hardest times. When he could no longer care for himself, Dee emerged as a caretaker with the utmost compassion and gusto. She was devoted to him, from the day they met and until his last breath… it was a deeply rooted love that is rare to find. To her grandchildren, she exemplified what it meant to be a grandmother. She loved her grandchildren with “…a heart bursting at the seams”; and she ignited her grandchildren’s imaginations whenever they visited, filling their world with creativity, fantasy, structure, and love.

Dee was admired and loved by family, friends, and acquaintances. The love and inspiration she shared will remain in our hearts, and her spirit will live within all of those whom she met along the road of her life.

Memorial Service for Dee Collins January 13, 2023 1pm Little River United Church of Christ 8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 Online streaming link: https://bit.ly/LR-DeeCollins

Memorial donations may be made to: The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. An online form is available on the website to make a donation in Dee's honor at https://www.alzinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FCF-DonationForm.pdf