Brenda Joyce Collins

Brenda Joyce Doyle Collins was born on March 21, 1949. Brenda was born in Forrest City Arkansas to her parents James Leland Doyle and Helen Juanita Kinder Doyle Hall.  Her parents were rice farmers in the Forrest City area, and they moved to Garland City Arkansas when Brenda was a child along with her only brother Thomas Earl “Tommy” Doyle.  Leland and Helen were the first rice farmers in southern Arkansas.  Brenda attended grade school in Garland City. 

The family moved to Lewisville Arkansas after her father, Leland, was killed in a traffic accident in October 1955.  Brenda was only 6 years old at the time.  Later, her mother remarried Joseph Marshall Hall, affectionately known to many as Mr. Joe or Papa Joe. 

Brenda graduated from Lewisville High School where she played basketball and was a cheerleader for the Lewisville Red Devil football team.  The summer of 1967 after graduating, Brenda attended a school for cosmetology but later decided to attend the School of Radiologic Technology at the University of Arkansas Medical Science. Upon graduating and passing the American Registry of Radiologic Technology certification, she accepted a job at Sparks Regional Hospital in Fort Smith Arkansas.

She met and married Charles “Charlie” Collins in March of 1970.  They both worked at Sparks and remained in Fort Smith until they moved to Little Rock in the fall of 1971 for Charlie to attend college at UALR. They remained in the Little Rock area for most of the next 50 plus years.

In 1972, Brenda became a mother after the birth of their daughter Jennifer Lyn Collins.  Brenda loved her daughter and later her son-in-law Dan O’Leske.  Jennifer and Dan gave her two grandsons that she loved, adored, and spoiled to the best of her ability.  Her grandsons are Ethan and Declan O’Leske and all still live in the Little Rock area.  She was lovingly known as “Omi” to her grandsons.

Brenda became a Sports car enthusiast and she and her husband were active members in the British Motoring Club of Arkansas.  She loved to attend the monthly car club rallies and meetings.  She served in several capacities for the club including Historian, President, and the newsletter editor.

Brenda enjoyed travelling as well. Whether it was a car trip or an airline trip, she loved to explore and shop.  Brenda was well known for her Birkenstock collection.  She had dozens of pairs.  Shopping for Birkenstocks became easier after she joined her husband for 4 years living in Germany from 2000 until 2004.  While living there she enjoyed seeing other countries including France, Spain, Italy, Austria, England, and the Czeck Republic.  She enjoyed the friends and relatives that were able to come and visit while living in Germany.

Brenda was preceded in death by her brother Tommy, her father Leland, her stepfather Joe Hall, and her mother Helen Hall.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years Charles Collins, her daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Dan O’Leske and her two grandsons Ethan and Declan O’Leske.  She leaves three nieces, Gina Gore, Julie Doyle, and Becky Sander.  She also leaves one uncle, Lynn Kinder of North Dakota, and many cousins and friends.

There will be a memorial celebration of life on September 23^rd at 3:00 PM at the Lake Corvallis “Yacht Club” located next to Mcleods British Cars in Maumelle Arkansas.

The family would like to thank the doctors and CCU employees at St. Vincents Infirmary for all their help during her final days.

Also, we would like to thank the Smith Funeral Home of Little Rock for their help with the final arrangements.