Carole Ann Campbell Collins

Carole Ann Campbell Collins, 85, passed away October 4, in the embrace of her grown children. She was born October 11, 1940, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Caroline Busch Campbell and Estel Oren Campbell. 

In 1944, the family moved to Ozark, where her father became the town's Ford dealer. Carole is a graduate of Ozark High School and earned a Bachelor and Master of Arts from Drury University. She married Clifton Collins on July 28, 1962, and was married to him for 51 years until his death.

Carole was a long-time member of Ozark Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and elder on Session, as well as serving over 20 years as president of the Presbyterian Women’s Council and was appointed to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA).

From her youth Carole was involved in many community organizations and sought out ways to be a dynamic leader. Her leadership began as a Camp Fire Girl then on to band member in High School and later leader in her fraternity, Alpha Phi, at Drury University. As a young mother she led the Girl Scouts in Ozark and was on the Regional Council of Girl Scouts in Dogwood Trail when the Girl Scouts started the Daisies for second-grade girls.

Carole headed the Cosmopolitan Club’s successful drive to save the WPA-built community building on the square from demolition and a change in land use.

She served as president and vice chair of the Christian County Chapter of the American Heart Association. In that role, she organized volunteers to go door-to-door in every community across the county.

Carole had an unfaltering devotion to faith, family, friends and community. She and her husband devoted their lives to creating or supporting causes that touched their hearts by hands on hard physical work, leadership, knowledge and financial generosity to meet the needs of others in their community.

Examples of their hard work can be seen in every facet of the community from Carole’s leadership with the Christian County Museum and Historical Society where she facilitate the move to the former community building on the Ozark Square to the establishment of a fund to develop a gift shop intended to help offset utility costs for the museum which will ensure their continued success.

Recognizing the need for services for abused women and their children, Carole initiated the development of the Christian County Family Crisis Center, later known as Freedom’s Rest, and its retail shop, Neat Repeats. With the donation of a building and Clifton’s knowledge and hard work with its renovation and upkeep many women and children throughout several counties in Missouri were provided a safe place to sleep and get their needs met for a brighter future.

Carole and Clifton were among a group of founding members of the Finley River Community Foundation (FRCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and served as FRCF’s first president. She was an honorary member of FRCF until her death. She was a charter member of Impact 100, a fund of FRCF. In 2012, Carole was named the Finley River Community Foundation Citizen of the Year.

In recognition of her extensive community service, Carole was included in Who’s Who in America.

After retiring from the recreational vehicle business, Carole and Clifton traveled extensively, visiting 72 countries and all 50 states—many of them several times. Their homes were filled with mementos and memories of those journeys and photos of the friends and family who shared the experiences with them.

She and Clifton would spend many winters in South Texas. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen, leading social activities and projects in their community. She tutored Hispanic youth, aged 2 and 3 at Su Casa Esperanza (House of Hope).

After moving to Northpark Village 14 years ago, Carole established its flower and vegetable gardens. She supported each activities director by helping with elegant teas and holiday celebrations and by baking for Alzheimer’s fundraisers and garage sales. Carole also offered residents and staff friendship, encouragement, and thoughtful counsel, forming many lasting friendships within the Village in the years since Clifton passed.

Her parents, husband, and adopted son from Ireland, Reginald, preceded Carole in death. She is survived by her son Cameron and wife Gaye, daughter Cynthia Fitzgibbons and husband John; grandchildren Colleen Fitzgibbons and husband Colin Brixey, Carolyn Fitzgibbons and husband Ryan Zapotcny, Chandler Collins, Augie Nickels and wife Kristen, and their son Gus and daughter Gillie, and too numerous to list members of extended family and friends, who gave Carole a lifetime of love and companionship.

Mom was an exemplary woman of God; her faith was contagious and inspiring. Family and community was essential to her and dad. Their final gifts benefited many organizations in Christian County.

We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of care, support, prayers and love from so many she held so dear to her heart. Elise, you have been a close friend of Mom's from her earliest years. Over the decades this friendship grew into an inseparable sisterly bond and partnership for Mom and an invaluable support for our whole family.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Adams Funeral Home, Ozark., with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m., with Reverend Matthew Roberts officiating.

Burial will follow at Selmore Cemetery, Ozark. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clifton and Carole Collins Fund, Finley River Community Foundation, PO Box 1176, Ozark, MO 65721. https://cfozarks.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2143&sorg_id=1026