Mary Celoras Collins, age 97 of Athens, Tennessee died Wednesday May 7, 2008 at her residence.

A native of Meigs County and resident of McMinn County most of her life, she was a daughter of the late James LaFayette and Mary Louisa Stanton Kyker, and was preceded in death by her Husband, Hoyal Martin Collins on June 26, 1990;  a son, James Hoyal Collins; son-in-law, Kenneth Brackett;  a great-great-grandson, Carson Myers;  brother, Otto Kyker and sisters Viola Sliger and Avalee Roddy.

She was the oldest member of Clearwater Baptist Church and she loved to make quilts and crochet.

Survivors: Two Sons and Three Daughters-In-Law: Martin Richard and Ellen Collins of Athens, Tenn., Thomas Edward "Tom" and Carolyn Collins of Athens, Tenn., Doris Alexander Collins of Rockford, IL.  Three Daughters and Sons-In-Law: Mary Louise and Clarence Edward Guyer of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Virginia Carolyn and Kenneth Brackett of Athens, Tenn., Deloras Ann and Allen Hirris of Etowah, Tenn.  One Brother: William Franklin Kyker of Philadelphia, Tenn.  Sister-in-law: Bernice Kyker of Decatur, Tenn.  Twenty-One Grandchildren, Thirty-Four Great-grandchildren, Eighteen Great-great-grandchildren, and several Nieces and Nephews.

Funeral Services will be 8:00 P.M. Friday in the Chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Bryant officiating.

Graveside Services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday in McMinn Memory Gardens.  Active pallbearers will be Grandsons.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 before the funeral service.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com