Sondra Kaye Collins

Dear sweet Kaye Collins passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025, following a lengthy illness. She was a wonderful woman with a beautiful smile and contagious laugh. She loved her husband, family, friends, students, bright colors and life. She was patient, warm, kind, gracious, welcoming, and a servant to all. She will be greatly missed. 

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, at DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco.

Kaye’s actual full name is Sondra Kaye Collins, but she has always gone by her middle name of Kaye. She was born on September 15, 1942, in Duncan, Oklahoma, to Russell and Kathleen Williams. When she was four her family moved from Duncan to Odessa, Texas, to start a meat processing and grocery store business. While growing up she spent most of her free time working with her parents in the family business. After graduating from Odessa High School she attended the University of North Texas where she earned a B.S. degree in Education. It was during her junior year that she met her future husband, Lane, who was then an officer at James Connally Air Force Base. They married in Odessa and spent two years at James Connally and two years at Mather AFB in Sacramento. Their two sons were born during the Air Force years.

Upon Lane’s separation from the Air Force, the family returned to Waco where Kaye began her teaching career at Brook Avenue Elementary. After five years the family moved to Los Angeles for Lane to attend USC. During those years Kaye worked for Torrance Parks & Recreation and in the credit dept. of Broadway Department Store. When not working she enjoyed playing league softball and, above all, watching her sons play soccer and baseball.

The family eventually returned to Waco and she worked as an officer for Central Texas S&L for about five years. Her third child, Terri, was born during that period. Soon thereafter she opted to return to teaching. She taught mainly fifth grade for the next twenty years, split between South Waco and China Spring Elementary Schools. For recreation she enjoyed country dancing, family boating, and watching Terri perform in dance recitals and as a member of the elite China Spring Electric Blues team.

After retiring in 2002, Kaye enjoyed playing golf with Lane, trips to visit relatives and trips to Whistler, BC, Canada. She probably had her most fun having monthly lunches and card games with her wonderful friends and former colleagues Wanda, Frances and Melba. The girls also took several trips together. For many years she worked weekly to prepare meals at the Gospel Café. She was a member of DaySpring Baptist Church. 

In 2010, Kaye and Lane established the Lane and Kaye Collins Endowed Scholarship Fund in Accounting at Baylor University. To date, about 270 students have received benefits. Lane and both of her sons were accounting majors at Baylor. 

Kaye was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gerry, her sister Lisa who died in infancy, and her sister-in-law, Christine Christy. 

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Lane; sons Russell (and Julie) of Seattle and Gregory (and Christie) of Dallas; daughter Terri (and Curt) of Argyle and former daughter-in-law Carrie (and Dan) of Westmont IL. Also surviving her are “ Mimi’s” six grandchildren: Paige (and Scott), Kylie, Grant (and Allison), Madison, Luke, and Grace, along with two great grandchildren, Ivy and Chase, with another on the way.

She is survived also by her aunt Gwendolyn, her in-laws Verlene Williams, Carmen Christy, and Robert and Lynne Collins and by several nieces and nephews: Sherry, Lisa, Andrea, Michele, Christen, Steve, Keith and Bobby.

In addition to the memorial service at 2:00, a private graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery on the morning of the memorial service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the charity of your choice.