Pamela Rae (Kelley) Collins

Pamela Rae Collins went home to Jesus on January 25, 2021 at age 62, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Pam was born to William and Arlene Kelley on July 23, 1958 in Pontiac, Michigan.  Throughout her life, she loved to be with family, being outside, listening to music, being with friends and nurturing others.

Pam attended Lake Superior State University in Michigan and obtained degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering technology at a time when few women were able to break into those fields.  She utilized those degrees to work as an electrical engineer for Bechtel Corporation, Vogtle Power Plant and at Savannah River Site, becoming a Lead Electrical Design Engineer.  Pam loved her career choice and especially her job team.

Pam met her husband, Thomas Collins through mutual friends.  They were married in Midland, Michigan in 1984 and were married for 36 years.  Together they loved to travel, flying in their plane and taking part in fly-ins, going on cruises, and RVing. They have had multiple permanent campsites over the course of many years, from lakeside to mountainside, where they enjoyed a community of fellow campers and became the go-to campsite for fellowship and food, as they loved to cook together.

Pam loved to craft and frequently gifted others with her beautiful hand-stamped, crocheted or embroidered creations.  She never met a stranger!

Pam is pre-deceased by her father, William Kelley.  She is survived by her loving husband and caregiver, Thomas Collins; mother, Arlene Kelley of Union Lake, MI; father and mother-in-law, Eugene and Madella Collins of Sturgeon Bay, WI; brother, Greg Kelley (Lisa) of Waterford, MI; sisters-in-law Denise Englebert of Brussels, WI, Wendy Gaston (James) of Winslow, AR, Tammy Barnhouse (Daryl) of Pottsville, AR.  She was also survived by her adored nephew and nieces, Travis, Erin, Kara, Cait, Anna; great-nieces, Lexi, Lemmy; great-nephew, Trevor, and her beloved dogs Mollie and Maggie who kept her company sitting many hours on her lap.

Her beautiful life, laughter and bubbly personality will be forever cherished in the hearts of her family and friends.

Her Mass will be officiated by Fr. Stephen J. Lyness at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 1326 Washington Road, Thomson, Georgia on Friday, January 29, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 28, 2021 at Beggs Funeral Home with Rosary to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society or Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Thomson, Georgia.

The family wants to thank Dr. Wells and staff, Augusta Vascular Center and sister-in-law, Wendy, who called her every night to see how she was doing, sister-in-law, Tammy, and her husband Daryl for putting their life on hold and coming to help in her care and love and her chemo buddy, Margie Ballard.

Per CDC requirements, the family will be observing social distancing.  Masks are required and appreciated.  If you are uncomfortable attending, the family would appreciate your phone calls, cards, texts, and e-mails.

Beggs Funeral Home, Thomson, Georgia is honored to serve the family of Pamela Rae Collins.