WAYNE CITY – Maryellen Faye (Marsh) Collins of Wayne City, IL, passed away at her home on Sept. 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., with her two children by her side. She was 98 years old and had been in declining health for quite some time. She had been on hospice care since March of 2022.
Maryellen was born on November 26, 1926, in Barnhill, IL, to Ben and Anna (Gifford) Marsh. She grew up in Barnhill and lived there until she married Charles Collins on June 18, 1950. After they married, they moved to Fairfield, IL. She and her husband adopted two children.
Maryellen was a homemaker until later in life. After her children were older, she worked at Airtex in Fairfield, IL, for 20 years, and also as a C.N.A. at Way-Fair Nursing Home and at Countryside Manor in Mt. Vernon, IL. She had also been an EMT along with her husband Charles, who served for the Wayne County Ambulance.
She enjoyed reading her Bible daily, attending church, planting a big garden with her husband, tending to her flowers, and feeding the hummingbirds. Her favorite songs were “Whispering Hope” and “Amazing Grace,” and her favorite Bible verse was Psalm 122:1 — “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
In 1985, Maryellen and Charles moved to Wayne City, where she remained until the time of her death. She was an active member of Wayne City Baptist Church for many years, until her health declined and she was no longer able to attend. However, she still enjoyed listening to gospel programs such as The Gaithers’ Homecoming and sermons by Billy Graham.
In her final years, though confined to her home, she still found joy in weekly calls from her niece, Virginia Doggett, and visits from her dear friends Katherine Webb, Kathleen Woodley, Marlene Woods, Tabitha Morse, and many other close friends and family. Many from her Sunday School class at Wayne City Baptist Church stopped by to visit, pray with her, and bring delicious homemade food.
Maryellen’s faith in the Lord was unwavering. When her eyesight declined, she deeply missed reading her Bible, but her spiritual strength never faltered. She is now at peace, reunited with her loving husband Charles, and safe in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ. She had sadly lost her hearing and most of her eyesight in her final years, but now both are wonderfully restored — and she is walking on those beautiful streets of gold.
Maryellen Faye Collins is survived by one son, Charles Collins II, and one daughter, Anna Collins, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Charles Collins; her parents; and five siblings.
A private family graveside service for Maryellen Faye (Marsh) Collins will be held at Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Barnhill, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Maryellen’s memory may be made to the Wayne City Baptist Church and will be accepted at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, which is assisting the family with arrangements.
Maryellen’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to all of the wonderful and caring hospice nurses, C.N.A.s, and workers from Help at Home. An extra special thank you goes to Maryellen’s nurse Amber, who cared for her during her last four years on hospice. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Laura, Maryellen’s longtime C.N.A., and her therapy dog, Nala. And last but not least, to nurse Krista from hospice, who provided comfort and support to Maryellen’s children as she passed from this life into the arms of Jesus.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.gholsonfuneralhome.com.