On July 4, 2020, Rose Lee (Parsons) Collins passed on peacefully at the age of 93. She was born on December 28, 1926 to Clara E. (Krause) Parsons and Edward H. Parsons at the Krause log cabin on Old Pearsall Road. Rose was a strong, resilient, and intelligent woman who treasured her family’s history and held to her beliefs that history was worth saving. She married Carlton Leo “Bo” Collins at the Somerset Methodist Church on July 18, 1970. Unfortunately, this marriage was very short lived as Carlton passed away only 11 months later on June 15, 1971.
Rose Lee grew up on the Krause farm lands on the Old Pearsall Road. Her parents operated a dairy farm and Rose helped in milking the cows. Rose also tended to the chickens and loved them. As a result, she hated eating chicken in any form.
Rose held an Associate of Arts Degree from San Antonio College; a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Trinity University, where she graduated with honors; and a Master of Education from Trinity University. She did further graduate work at the University of Hawaii.
She taught for seven years at Edison High School, and taught bookkeeping and typing for fifteen years at Holmes High School. She was chosen Texas State Business Teacher of the Year in 1974.
For many years, Rose was the primary caretaker of her parents and the historic McCulloch Cemetery, which shares a boundary line with her family’s Krause log cabin.
In addition to being an avid lover of history, Rose Lee had a passion for growing flowers and vegetables, especially her asparagus, and she had a great love for animals of all kinds. She had many dogs throughout her lifetime and frequently rescued abandoned dogs who found their way to her home. She also pursued crocheting, sewing, painting, piano and organ playing.
She was especially proud of growing up on a farm, her family history, and her accomplishments as a woman who obtained an education and who had a career in a rural area.
Rose loved her church and her church family. Every year for Christmas she made a dozen different types of cookies and filled gallon size bags and delivered them to her church family. She also had a delicious recipe for pralines, which were made with her own pecans she grew. She donated much of her time and her crafts to help support her church bazaar. Every Sunday morning at their early church service, Rose faithfully helped. She studied to become an Ordained Minister and enjoyed sharing her love for the Lord.
She had abundant energy and even in her 70’s and 80’s continued to maintain her home and acreage as well as the historic cabin. Rose Lee Parsons Collins was truly an amazing and inspirational woman.
As Jesus says to her, Well done Good and Faithful Servant, I imagine him asking Rose, how are you doing? And I hear her saying “Fine as frogs’ hair”.
A Private Graveside Service was held on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bexar Cemetery near Somerset. She was laid to rest next to her husband and her parents.
Donations may be sent to Animal Defense League of San Antonio.
Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home, Castroville.