Gerald Lee "Jerry" Collins passed away March 6, 2024. Jerry was born on Halloween, October 31, 1938, to Leslie and Mary (Breeding) Collins in Okemah, Oklahoma (one day after the famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast).

When a very young man Jerry used his bicycle to deliver newspapers for the Enid Daily Eagle and Sunday Newspaper. He would tell his daughters about how, on cold, wet winter nights he would return home, and his pants would stand up on their own having been so frozen.

He graduated from Enid High School in 1957. After graduating from high school, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Gerten. They eloped and married in Wichita, Kansas, on September 5, 1959. About one year later, their daughter Cindy was born. Seven years later, Karen was born.

He served in the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard from 1959 to 1964. He loved to reminisce about his days at summer camp with his fellow guardsmen. Some of those guardsmen remained close friends to their dying days.

He was a charter member of the Playboys Car Club in Enid which was incorporated in 1959. They held numerous drag races at Vance Air Force Base and Kegelman Field, giving half of the proceeds to Vance AFB and the Enid Police Athletic Fund. They sent a hand-written letter to Hugh Hefner requesting permission to use the Playboy Magazine bunny with racing flags for their logo – permission was granted.

Jerry enjoyed spending time riding motorcycles with his friends in the mountains of Mexico, Colorado, and New Mexico. He had many tales to tell and pictures to show. In addition to those places, he and Carolyn traveled to Canada and Alaska and took several ocean cruises. For many years he had season tickets to the OU football games and enjoyed the games with his good friend Everette Brewer.

After delivering newspapers, his first major job was at Howell Tire Company in Enid where he worked as a tire recapper. In 1963, he began working for Monkey Grip, a company in Dallas, Texas, as a regional salesman. He worked there for 25 years and was given an award for having sold more than $1,000,000 in just one year. He later worked for Price Rubber Company in Alabama, Paris Supply, of Paris, Texas, and finally for Land Services in Blanchard, Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Leslie Collins.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughters Cindy Ramsey, Karen Laubach, and son-in-law Mark Ramsey. Grandchildren; Ben Ramsey and wife Kayla, Alex Ramsey and wife Brittany, Justin Laubach and wife Katie. Great grandchildren; Liam Laubach, Addilyn Ramsey, and Theo Laubach; his brother Bob Collins and wife Sue, brother-in-law Charles Gerten, and wife Doris, as well as several nephews and cousins. His unique sense of humor will be remembered and missed by his many friends and family.