SEE NOTE FOLLOWING OBIT BY SUBMITER

Mr. John M. Collins, 79, of Morganton, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at the Johns River, Morganton. Born Aug. 30, 1930, in Surry County, he was a son of the late Montgomery Collins and Leona Brindle Collins. Mr. Collins was a member of the Arneys Chapel United Methodist Church, Morganton, and a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from N.C. State University as a wildlife biologist and served the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) with 31 years of service. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and a certified biologist with the Wildlife Society World Wide Organization. He organized the Eastern U.S. Black Bear Workshop in 1972 and received the Governor's Conservation Achievement Award in 1990. Other achievements included serving 16 years as big game program coordinator and black bear management project leader 22 years, NCWRC. He is survived by a daughter, Lisa Collins Rutledge and her husband, George S. Rutledge of Spartanburg, S.C.; a grandson, Ian Rutledge of Spartanburg, S.C.; a brother, Kenneth Collins of Milton Freewater, Ore.; a nephew, Tommy Collins of Riverside, Calif.; and a niece, Jean Jennings of Clemmons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna Sue Surrett Collins. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Chapel of Kirksey Funeral Home, Morganton, with the Rev. Neil Brantley officiating. Interment will follow at the Arneys Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Kirksey Funeral Home, Morganton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Collin's memory to the Arneys Chapel United Methodist Church, 3124 Piedmont Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to The Wildlife Society, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD, 20814. Condolences at www.kirkseyfh.com.


MORGANTON - A Morganton man drowned Tuesday afternoon in Johns River, approximately 2 miles south of Corpening Bridge.
John Collins, 79, died after his canoe capsized during a squirrel hunt.
Don McGalliard, 71, of Newton was squirrel hunting with Collins and had minor injuries from the canoe accident.
Burke County Emergency Medical Services Sgt. Randall Berry said EOC received a call for help at 3:40 p.m. concerning two people in the water.
A rescue crew on a boat and on a crew on all-terrain vehicles spent approximately an hour searching along Old Johns River Road for the pair.
Burke County Sheriff's Detective Mike Ollis said the pair had seen a squirrel on the river bank and attempted to turn the canoe to go back when it capsized.
The river carried Collins and McGalliard approximately 150 to 200 yards away from where the canoe flipped over.
Burke County Rescue Squad, Eastern Burke County Rescue Squad, Burke County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, a N.C. Department of Corrections Bridge crew and Chesterfield, Drexel and Oak Hill fire departments also responded to the scene.

The News Herald
Morganton, NC

NOTES BY SUBMITTER:

John Marion Collins was the son of Montgomery Collins.
Montgomery Collins was the son of Lewis William Collins b. 1841 died 7 23 1915 in Surry County, and Sarah Elizabeth "Lizze" Cooper.

Lewis was the son of Hiram Collins 1802-1879 and Phebe Tucker of Yadkin County, NC. Hiram was the son of Obediah Collins and Martha "Patsey" Unk.