KARON YVETTE ELZY COLLINS
05/15/1958 - 02/02/2024
Karon Yvette Elzy Collins was born to the late Hazel E. (Woods) and Willie B.
Elzy on May 15, 1958. Karon transitioned peacefully at home after a lengthy period of being afflicted with frontal temporal dementia (FTD). Karon gracefully endured her condition, never letting it take her joy. She was affectionately known by family and friends as “Kaye.” She grew up in Houston, Texas surrounded by a loving family and friends. She was a faithful member of the St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Acres Holmes. She was nurtured and protected by this Christian body and drew strength from the congregation. In later adult life, she was added to the West Houston Church of Christ.
Karon matriculated through elementary, middle, and high school in the Houston Independent School District. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the North Texas State University (Denton, Texas). She earned her master’s degree from the University of Houston (Clear Lake). She completed her ABD at Texas A&M University, College Station, before falling ill which prevented her from completing her goal of earning her doctorate in children’s literature. Children’s literature was her passion.
Karon Y. Elzy and Donald R. Collins (Ray) were joined in holy matrimony on June
18, 1983. To this union were born Grace Kimberly Collins and the late Cody William Alexander Collins. Kaye was my heart and gladness, and I will sorely miss my wife and best friend’s irresistible charm and infectious smile. She was the anchor and center for our children, whom she loved dearly.
Karon worked until she retired early because of her disability. After graduation from college, her first full-time job was at the Texas Human Services Office (Houston, Texas), serving as a food stamp worker. She transferred to the children’s protective services (CPS) in Lubbock, Texas. When she and her new husband returned to Houston, Texas, she worked at Foley’s Department Store in sales. After working at Foley’s, she worked as a substitute teacher in the Brazoria County, Texas area, where her husband accepted a new position. She later joined the University of Texas (Galveston, Texas) as Assistant Director and later as the Director of the patient simulation program for medical students, for over a decade. She followed her husband to PVAMU and became the Director of the Developmental English Program, for over a decade. Karon and Ray made the prayerful decision for her to resign from PVAMU and stay at home to spend time with her teenage children. She then worked part-time as an adjunct instructor at Cy-Fair Community College and Houston Community College. Throughout Karon’s career, she cherished many life-long friendships.
Karon was preceded in death by her son, Cody William Alexander Collins. She was preceded by her parents. She was preceded by her beloved sister, Kim Yvonne Elzy Randolph. She was also preceded by her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bluster and Lula Woods; and, her paternal grandparents, Reverend and Mrs. Samuel and Eva Jenkins Elzy. She is preceded by her dear cousin, Ms. Gayle S. Akers.
Cherishing her memory are her loving husband, Donald R. Collins; her devoted daughter, Grace K. Collins; her maternal aunt, Mrs.
Leola Woods Calhoun; her brother-in-law, Mr. Reginald Randolph and our nephew, Regan Randolph. Karon had that one special deep and abiding friendship since college with Ms. Sandra Rivera (Atlanta, Georgia). Special in our hearts is Karon’s god daughter, Ms. Jade Ember Wright (Fort Worth, Texas). A host of family and friends survive Karon.
Donald, Grace, family and friends want to acknowledge everyone in Karon’s life. We also thank family and friends for their overwhelming generosity of food, sentiments, and time. We express deep gratitude to the CHOICE Hospice team, especially Ms. Shaquana Poole and Ms. Jill Wise. We also are grateful for the exceptional care provided by Mrs. Inez Ostigin, Mrs. Yirka Martinez Aguilar, and Mrs. Roddette DeVega at Wellness Home Health. Invaluable transportation services were provided to Karon by Theodore Akalonu at Precise Care EMS Transport.