Jane Ross Buck Collins

Mrs. Jane Ross Buck Collins, 84, passed away Friday morning, April 15, 2005, at her home in Ocean Springs. She was a longtime member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs Mrs. Collins was born on January 23, 1921 in Norfolk, Virginia. She attended Onancok High School and William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1942 she married George Thad Buck, Jr. of Tchula, MS, whom she met at the U. S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. They enjoyed 51 years together while he served in the U. S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel to Ocean Springs in 1970. Six years after George Buck passed away in 1993, she married William J. Collins in 1999. They shared nearly five and a half very happy and active years together in Ocean Springs. They traveled extensively, including a trip to the Czech Republic to attend Mr. Collins' grandson's wedding. Mrs. Collins is survived by her loving husband, Bill; her four daughters, Barbara Buck "Bonnie" Luft of Ocean Springs and her husband, Lee; Kathryn Buck DelConte of Biloxi; Elizabeth Buck Hoffmann and her husband, Bruce, of Pensacola, FL and Tracey Buck Waddell and her husband, James "Butch", of Key West, FL; six grandchildren, Robert Berry and his wife, Suzanne; Susan Berry Parker and her husband, Dennis; Thad DelConte and his wife, Melanie; Matthew DelConte; Carlee Hoffmann and Gini Waddell; seven great grandchildren, two special cousins, Mary Custis Hart of Vermont and Margaret Custis Greene of Texas and her long-time friend, Judy Sharpe, of Gautier. She is also survived by her children and grandchildren related by marriage, Carolyn Sue Collins Manley and her husband, Robert, of Ocean Springs; Frances "Toni" Collins Gosney and her husband, James, of Houston, Texas and James Collins and his wife, Joy, of Grants Pass, Oregon; and their children, Robert, Shelly, David and Katie Manley, Allison Gosney, and J. R. and Ethan Collins. Mrs. Collins was a blessing to her family and many friends. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. A service will be held Monday, April 18, 2005, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs at 1:30 p.m.. Graveside services will be held Tuesday at Biloxi National Cemetery for the immediate family. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 6358, Gulfport, MS 39531, The American Cancer Society, 182 A Debuys Road, Biloxi, MS 39531, St. Johns Episcopal Church, Porter Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564 or to Hospice of Light 2101 Hwy. 90, Gautier, MS 39563. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Light for their loving care and support during our time of need.