Elmo (Moe) Elbert Collins, Sr. was born on January 25, 1929 to Andrew and Velma Collins in Wetumka, Oklahoma.

He went to his reward in paradise from Conroe, Texas at the age of 97 on May 17, 2026 and he is now reunited with his beloved wife, Mary.

Elmo was a 1947 graduate of Calvin High School and he married Mary Elizabeth Templeton on February 9, 1951 in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. They began a life together that would last for almost 75 years.

Elmo attended one year of college before entering the United States Navy.

He was a radioman on the USS Fulton and served in both the Pacific and Atlan tic Oceans. After leaving the Navy, he joined Halli- burton in oil field services where he had the reputation of being competent and reliable. He retired in 1983 as the Oklahoma Western Division Sales Manager.

Upon retirement, he moved to the ranch near Calvin where he grew up and made it a special place for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He raised longhorn and angus cattle on the ranch for over 40 years. Moe was an avid fisherman and he es - pecially enjoyed fishing for trout in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri.

Most importantly, he was a believer in Christ and an elder in the Stuart Oklahoma Church of Christ. He taught us what it meant to be a father and as a father, his earnest desire was that all his family would also be believers. In this he succeeded and is now rejoicing.

Elmo is survived by his daughter Peggy Giles and her husband Lou, his son Elmo Jr. and his wife Karen; grandchildren Brooke Giles (Michael) Cox, Dorothy Collins (Josh) Andreas, Amber Giles (Bryan) Beene, Christopher (Jennifer) Collins; great-grandchildren Everett, Caleb and Tyler Cox, Samuel and Benjamin Andreas, Micah and Jake Beene, Kayleigh, Avery, Paige and Braden Collins. Elmo is also survived by his brother Elmer Collins and many nieces and nephews. Elmo is preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents Andrew and Velma Collins; siblings Elva Beck, Arlis (Bill) Collins, Eldon Collins, and Dorothy Sheppard.

Services will be held at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel, 1410 East Carl Albert Parkway, McAlester, Oklahoma 74501 on May 26, 2026. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. with services at 11:00 a.m. Interment follows services at Red Oak Cemetery, Bache, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, memori als may be sent to In Search of the Lord’s Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, Oklahoma 73083.