Ray (Raymond) Collins, my beloved husband (Donell Kerns) passed away on Oct 3, 2016.

Ray engaged in living his life fully! He had a lively personality and delighted in making people happy. He was deeply kind, socially and politically active, a storyteller, a gardener, and a poet. He was an activist for social justice, the environment, civil liberties, and cared deeply about the well-being of children.

Ray had undergraduate and master’s degrees in engineering and a PhD in social psychology and spent his later work life as a clinical psychologist. Perhaps the accomplishment that Ray was most proud of was his involvement in helping to create a co-housing community in Chapel Hill, NC. This intentional community is based on shared values and environmental stewardship, with an emphasis on knowing and engaging with one’s neighbors. Ray loved this community.

Ray also loved his siblings and extended family. Originally a family of nine children, three sisters survive Ray and all live in North Carolina. He has three sons and nine grandchildren. He is also survived by many family and friends in the La Crosse area.

A special thank you to the staff at Eagle Crest South Memory Care. You are great people doing very compassionate work! Thanks also to Mary Bassing, MD and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for accepting that death is a natural outcome of life. Thank you also to Gundersen Lutheran Hospice staff who provided care and support on the journey.

Memorials may be sent to: The American Civil Liberties Union, The Sierra Club (Nationally or locally), The La Crosse YWCA CASA for Kids program, the La Crosse International Gardens.

“With life as short as a half taken breath, why plant anything but love.” Rumi