In Loving Memory Of Richard Collins Richard Collins quietly passed away from dementia on November 9th 2025, at the age of 82. He was born on April 16th 1943 in Paul's Valley Oklahoma. Richard and I first met in my hometown of Flagstaff Arizona in August of 1973 at the Museum Club dance hall. From the moment we met there was a special connection between the two of us that only deepened with time. Just two weeks later, Richard told me that he was in love with me. I laughed and said " How could you be? It's only been two weeks!" But as the months passed, I too fell deeply in love with him. He affectionately called me " Brown Eyes ", saying I had the most beautiful brown eyes he'd ever seen. At that time Richard faced a difficult decision as he had the opportunity to work on the Aleyeska pipeline in Alaska. After six months together, he made the choice to go to Alaska. And though I was devastated and heartbroken, we went our separate ways. Twenty years later he came back to Flagstaff and asked me to marry him. We were married in 1993 and shared thirty-four wonderful years together, traveling extensively for his work and building a life filled with love, laughter and lasting memories. Richard had three children from two previous marriages, but as he often said, his greatest joy came from helping me raise my daughter Stephanie and his grandson Nicholas. He was also very close to my sons Mercy and Mark. Family was the center of his life. Richard was a very private person and valued a small circle of close relationships. He had two dear friends in life--Mike Broscous from Montana and Steve Sutter from Atchison, Kansas-- whom he came to know through their years together in the Construction Industry. Their friendship and loyalty meant a great deal to him. Richard often expressed his greatest regret in life was the twenty years we spent apart. He also shared his wish that when the time came for his memorial, two songs be played. "You were always on my mind " by Willie Nelson and "Loving her was easier (than anything I'll ever do again)" by Kris Kristofferson. Richard was truly the love of my life as I was his. Until we are together again, I will always love you forever and ever. Your Loving Wife Linda Collins