Darrah Collins

Darrah Roxanne Collins was born February 1, 1959, in Cabool, Missouri, to Duane and Ruth Fish Collins. She passed from this life on July 2, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri. She was 63 years, 5 months, and 2 days of age.

Darrah spent the first years of her life in Rochell, Illinois. When her family moved home to Missouri, Darrah attended Dora and Mountain Grove grade schools. Her childhood years were filled with school activities such as baton twirling in the color guard and soccer. She loved swimming, local picnics, camp, bible school, and visiting her cousins and friends. As a little girl she liked dressing our beagle pups in doll clothes, pushing them in the stroller and having them nap on the front porch in beds she would make out of doll pillows and blankets.

Darrah liked long walks with her Mother and little brother Kelly. She always returned with a bouquet of wild flowers.

Her Teenage years were typical: ball games, skating and listening to lots of music. Some weekends were spent with friends at Ray Harris's Store (Twin Knobs). One night at that store, she met her future husband, Mike Pettit. They were married on July 2, 1976. Darrah always loved babies and on September 20, 1980, Darrah and Mike welcomed a baby of their own, Dustin Michael Pettit.

In her late 20's Darrah returned to school, attending Drury University at night and working for Debbie Biard at the Hairbadashery by day. This was the beginning of a 30 year friendship between Darrah and Debbie. After Drury she was accepted into the nursing program in West Plains, Missouri.

Darrah's nursing career focused on geriatric long term care and home health. She cared deeply for her patients and listened to their stories of both good and sad times. She often brought them books to read, craft items or whatever they stood in need of. The WWII veterans, whom she called the last of the true gentlemen, were always her favorite.

Darrah was an excellent cook, she loved to crochet, and she had a keen eye for home décor and floral design. Everything she planted thrived under her green thumb.

As a young person, Darrah accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized at Osborn Ford in the North Fork River. Her faith in God remained strong all her life.

A few years ago, childhood sweethearts, Darrah and Greg, reconnected. They loved being together, making plans for marriage, retirement dreams, and growing old with one another.

Darrah is survived by her son Dustin Pettit, mother, Ruth Fish Collins, her dear love, Greg Vrouvas and his son, Adam, her brother, Kelly Collins and wife, Cathy, nieces, Bella, Leah and Grace Collins, aunts, Joyce Osborn and Wilma Hutchison, and her uncle, Doyle Collins, many cousins, relatives and friends near and far.

Preceding her in death was her father, Fred Duane Collins, grandparents, Roe Fish, Mabel Bennett, Lester Lovan and Ralph Bennett, uncle's, Bud Hutchison, Gary Lakey, John McDaniel and Jim Fish, aunt, Linda Collins, and also her cousins, Jaceana Lakey and Tawnya VanDyne.

Darrah will be forever loved and missed.