Ray A. Collings

Ray A. Collings, age 88 of Mattoon, IL passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019 surrounded by his family. A Funeral Mass in his honor will be held at 10:00 AM, August 5, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 320 N. 21st Street, Mattoon, IL 61938. Burial in Calvary Cemetery will be held at a later date. A visitation will be held Sunday evening, August 4, 2019 from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM at the church. Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home is in charge of services. Ray was born on June 14, 1931, the son of Clarence and Jennie (Ochs) Collings. On November 22, 1956, Ray married Marilyn K. Gallagher at St. Patrick’s Church in Decatur, IL. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Collings of Mattoon, IL; four children, Kevin Collings and wife Brenda of Springfield, IL, Michael Collings and wife Lori of Mattoon, IL, Kelli Miller and husband Chris of Mattoon, IL and Vicki Collings of Houston, TX; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one brother, John Collings of Robinson, IL. He was preceded in death by one son, Patrick Collings; three brothers, Delbert, Ed and Orville Collings; and four sisters, Juanita Anderson, Dorothy Briggs, Beatrice Coon and Sr. Paulette Collings. Ray honorably served our country in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. After the war, he attended Millikin University in Decatur, IL. He was employed by IKC Trucklines and remained in the trucking industry for forty-five years. Ray retired briefly but returned back to work at Enterprise Car Rental for nineteen years. He was a member of The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mattoon, IL and Knights of Columbus of Teutopolis, IL. He was a St. Louis Cardinal fan, enjoyed playing golf and watching football. Ray liked to cook and bake; his favorites were peanut brittle and chocolate chip cookies. Ray always had a “P.M.A” (Positive Mental Attitude) and was great motivator to his family and friends. He loved his family and was blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials in Ray’s honor may be made to Mattoon Ladies Guild of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cornea Research Foundation of America, 9002 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.

Tributes

Ray A. Collings

June 14, 1931 - July 30, 2019