Phyllis McLester Collins

Greensboro - Phyllis McLester Collins, born August 21, 1931 in West Palm Beach, Florida to Alma Louise Gates and Robert Lee McLester, Phyllis McLester Collins made her transition on March 1, 2012. She is survived by a daughter, Riki Lee Collins; son, Clay S. Collins; four grandsons, Jobe D. Scroggins, Benjamin R. Collins, Chessie Byer Collins, Jacob M. Collins; two great grandchildren, Emma and Aiden Scroggins; and a brother, C. Frederic McLester. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy Craig Collins.Phyllis married Richard G. Collins and spent the first half of her adult life as an Air Force wife. She loved the many opportunities this afforded. In addition to living in various parts of our country, they lived in three European countries, which allowed easy access for travel to many other countries. But for her, the greatest opportunities of service life were the numerous life long friendships she developed and maintained.Having fallen in love with the mountains during visits to the Alps, in 1982 Phyllis moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. There she found the Spiritual path which was to give meaning to the rest of her life.In 1986, Phyllis moved to Lee's Summit, MO to work and study at Unity Village. She attended Unity School of Practical Christianity and in 1990 became an ordained Unity Minister. After serving as senior pastor at Unity Church of Rochester, MN, Phyllis returned to Colorado where she associated with several Unity Churches in and around the Denver area. She loved Colorado and spent many wonderful times hiking, camping and skiing.In 1997, Phyllis moved to Greensboro, NC to assume the guardianship of her grandson, Chessie. At the age of 65 she became a soccer mom and considered the care of Chessie to be one of her greatest joys.Phyllis spent her last year in the care of her loving family and great friends. She considered her dying process a journey and met each challenge as an opportunity for learning. She was truly blessed and felt her dying was a new beginning.