Rayburn Dee Collins was born on November 16, 1941, in a small farmhouse in Lost City, a rural Hulbert OK community, to Hazel (York) Collins and Veachel D. Collins.  He passed away on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, at the age of 82.  Rayburn was known to many as Ray, and known to a few very lucky people as Husband, Dad and Papa.

Ray was raised in Wagoner, Oklahoma where he grew to love horses, hunting, and football before meeting the love of his life in high school, Linda Faye Baker.   Even though Ray was a talented athlete with options to pursue football at the next level his devotion and love for Linda led to their young marriage on Valentine's Day during his senior year of high school on February 14th, 1959.

Following high school Ray helped his father at the Wagoner Glass and Salvage shop and then began working for the Pryor Cement plant until 1969. While working in Pryor Ray began pursuing a higher education at Northeastern State University (NSU) and accomplished a double major in chemistry and mathematics with a grade point average of 3.9.  This wasn't an easy feat as he and Linda moved to Tahlequah, and both enrolled at NSU in January 1965 while having three small children under the age of five. Ray attended classes during the day and worked nights at the cement plant all while being a great father and provider to his family.

Following graduation from NSU in 1969, Ray changed his career path of pursuing a doctorate in chemistry, when he was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Ray was the first Oklahoma-based FBI agent to receive the United States Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement for his investigation that helped crack a coast-to-coast drug ring which aided in a ground-breaking prosecution of a murder defendant.  Ray also received recognition from the Director of the FBI for his dedication and commitment to excellence displayed following the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in OKC.  Ray enjoyed the challenges of an FBI Agent and he had a long and distinguished career for almost 30 years.

After retirement from the FBI in 1998, Ray enjoyed the following 26 years pursuing many hobbies in Oklahoma and Nevada.  Ray enjoyed playing golf with Linda and friends as well as hunting, fishing, traveling, farming, ranching, raising thoroughbreds, and spending a lot of time with friends and family.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sue Lee and grandson, Anthony Collins.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 65 years, Linda, of the home; son, Dr. Michael Collins and wife Lori of Tulsa Oklahoma; daughter, Debbie Hill and husband Tom of Acworth Georgia; son, Bryan Collins and wife Tami of Edgewater Florida.  Eight grandchildren and spouses, John Collins of OKC; Megan and Ryan Peacock of OKC; Robert Collins of Bartlesville OK; Jennifer and Derek Speck of Houston TX; Stephanie and Michael May of Acworth GA; Melissa and Brian Bates of Seattle WA; Abby Hill of Acworth GA; Phillip Collins of Claremore OK.  Three great grandsons, Abner Peacock 9, Cohen Peacock 6, Xander Speck 3.  Two great granddaughters, Collins Speck 16 months; Jillian May 2 months.

Services will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Methodist Church of Wagoner located at 308 East Church Street with interment immediately following at Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Mallett Funeral Home. The church will livestream the service at https://www.facebook.com/AbundantGraceMethodist . A recording of the service is also available below.

Viewing will be Thursday April 4, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the Chapel at Mallett Funeral Home and the family will be available to greet friends and relatives between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.