Funeral Services for Ardys Collins, 76, of Scranton will be 10:30 am Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Scranton.  Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00 pm Monday, March 2, 2009 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Scranton with at prayer service to follow at 7:00 pm.  Interment will be held at 3:00 pm Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at the Scranton Township Cemetery in Scranton.

Ardys Ann Boes Collins, daughter of Julius and Myrtle (Grabner) Boes, was born June 23, 1932 in Breda, Iowa. She was the first of five daughters. She attended St. Bernard grade school and high school. After graduating from high school in 1949, she worked at St. Anthony Hospital, Carroll, Iowa. In 1953 Ardys married Raymond L. Collins of Lohrville, Iowa. They moved to the farm in Greene County in December of 1953 where they continue to farm. They raised four children: Anthony, Elizabeth, Jennifer and Melissa.

Ardys was an active member in the St. Paul Catholic Church of Scranton, Iowa. She served on the Scranton Library Board, she was a troop leader with Girl Scouts of America, a member of Varcies Club, and enjoyed Bridge Club. She was an avid reader, horticulturist and card player.

Ardys was preceded in death by son Anthony “Tony” John Collins, her parents, and her sister Wilma “Jean” (Boes) Pudenz.

Ardys is survived by her husband, Raymond L. Collins; her three daughters: Elizabeth Ann Collins of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jennifer Jean (Collins) Taylor and husband Matthew Taylor of Scottsdale, Arizona and Melissa Joan (Collins) Thompson and husband Michael Thompson of Cocoa Beach, Florida; grandchildren Emily Rae Taylor of Phoenix, AZ, Adam Jerome Taylor and Anthony Robert Taylor of Scottsdale, AZ; and, her three sisters: Mary Jo (Bob) Loyd Leawood, KS, Myriel Boes of Omaha, NE, and Audrey (Terry) Johnson, Bode, IA.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Homes, Inc. of Jefferson and Grand Junction (515)386-2171.