Lelia Jane Collins

On December 26, 2005, at the age of 92, Lelia Jane Collins heard her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calling, and answered, "Lord, here am I". Lelia was born on June 28, 1913 to George and Jane Quesenberry, in Valley City, North Dakota, a fact she hated to admit. Her parents had only been visiting family there, and it was considered unacceptable for her Mother to travel back to their home in the Mesilla Valley in her "condition," and to the New Mexico heritage, she loved to claim. She is survived by her two children, Rex Collins (Sandy), and Kay Hernandez (Juan), along with her two Grandchildren Rian (Beth), and Lori Gresham, and two Great Grandchildren, Morgan and Riley. In addition, she is survived by her sisters Hope Barbour and Betti Sibley (G.W.-"Dub"), and her sister-in-law (as precious friends) Doris Quesenberry, and Sarah Emmerick, along with several generations of treasured nieces and nephews. Her parents, her husband Seaborn P. Collins, her brothers George and Jim Quesenberry, and her sister Frances Russell preceded her to eternal life Lelia was an avid Aggie Alumnus, and fan, having graduated from NMSU in 1935 with a degree in Home Economics, and as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She enjoyed knowing and entertaining university presidents and regents, when her husband served on the NMSU Board of Regents for 12 years, while some of her favorite friends in her later years were those who maintained the archives at the university library. She loved her role as wife and social planner to Seaborn, ad he served a term as National Commander of the American Legion, and was involved in local, state, and national politics. Lelia was one of the oldest living members in the American Legion Auxiliary, unit #10 and has been honored and recognized by many past and present, members and commanders of that post and at the national level. Leila Jane was one of the founders of Christian Day Nursery and its strong supporter these forty-eight years. She saw the need for such a day care and preschool long before others in the community verbalized the urgency. She knew personally a woman who had taken a common law husband, being financially unable to get a divorce from her former husband who had left her with their child and no support. Lelia Jane (Quesenberry) Collins was a strong, opinionated, capable, and loving woman, who loved life to its fullest. Whether it was setting up New Year's morning coffee for her neighborhood, working on needlepoint, hiking a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado with her friends, dropping in at the governor's mansion through the kitchen door, or helping others, she dearly loved her life, her family, her friends, and her faith, and always kept them close to her heart. She also had a special place in her heart for her caretakers at the Village at Northrise. A visitation for Lelia will be from 6 to 7 PM on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at Getz Funeral Home. A Graveside Funeral Service will be at 10 AM on Thursday, December 29, 2005 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Lelia's Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2005, at University Presbyterian Church, 2010 Wisconsin Ave. with Rev. Johnny Pickett officiating. In lieu of flowers, Lelia has requested that you consider donations be made in her name to Christian Day Nursery