His father, the late Pritchard Pat Collins of Greenbrier County, WV, was a coal miner, and his mother, the late Irene Beavers Collins Shupe, was a homemaker, and when necessity required it, she worked as a waitress or factory worker.

Mr. Collins' started his first job at age 13 as a clerk at Flanagan's Grocery Store at Clintonville, WV. He was also a teacher at Crichton Elementary School, Crichton, WV, an editor for the Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, WV, plant manager for American Bank Stationery, Reno, NV, and more recently was founder and editor of Brier Scratches Newspaper in Lewisburg, and his life-long friend, Thelma Robinson Pomeroy, was the assistant editor.

His education began in a two-room schoolhouse at Crawley, WV. Mrs. Lucille Taylor who taught 1s - 3rd grade was a great inspiration to him - she could be compared to the teacher in the book and movie "October Sky" who encouraged Homer Hickam to study hard in order to achieve his dreams. With the barest of necessities (i.e., no computers, no teacher's aides, and even no indoor bathroom facilities), Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Dietz saw many of their students continue their education and go on to receive college degrees. In 1958 Gov. Underwood presented Mr. Collins with the WV Golden Horseshoe Award, which is a symbol of scholastic achievement.

In 1962 he graduated from Rupert High School, Rupert, WV, was in the National Honor Society, and was voted “most likely to succeed” in his senior year. He attended Morehead State University, Morehead, KY; majoring in History; was on the Dean's List and was co-founder and co-editor of the college's magazine “Statement”. He also taught a course at the Baltimore Free University sponsored by Johns Hopkins about “Appalachian Life and Culture”.

He loved many things - family and school reunions, traveling (he visited all the U.S. states with the exception of a couple in the mid-west), Bluegrass was his favorite music, he loved to read, and one of his prized possessions was a copy of “ The Land Beyond the River” with a personal inscription by author Jesse Stuart; he enjoyed attending sports events - especially those his nephews participated in; and he enjoyed food - from the crab cakes of the Chesapeake Bay to the “ramp festivals” of WV!

Mr. Collins loved WV. He especially loved Greenbrier County where he had grown up. He was a member of Midland Trail Scenic Highway Assoc.; a member of Appalachian American Indians of WV; he founded “Greenbrier Citizens Against Drugs”; and he helped establish a college scholarship for a Greenbrier County senior. In addition, he met with WV U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller's Chief-of-Staff in Washington, D.C. to discuss needs for jobs, recreational facilities for children, and job training for the residents of Western Greenbrier County. But his concerns extended beyond the needs of Greenbrier County. He worked and succeeded in getting health benefits for his co-workers at his place of employment in Charleston, WV. When he lived in Tampa, Fl, he was involved in a fundraiser for the homeless, and he tutored residents in the shelters. His sister, Carol, says that the song ”Wonder What Would Happen To This World ” by folksinger Harry Chapin exemplifies her brother's desire to not just talk about the problems of the world, but to do what each of us can to make things better.

In August of 2000 at the age of 57, Mr. Collins suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. A couple years later he was diagnosed with Parkinsons' disease.

When he wasn't a patient in nursing facilities, Mr. Collins was taken care of in the homes of his sisters, Donna Lopez of Rupert, WV, and Carol Schroeder of Gainesville, VA, and they received an enormous amount of assistance from their brother Steve Collins of Rupert and cousin Lana Collins of Lewisburg, WV.

On March 13th, Pritchard passed away peacefully as his sister Carol, his only brother Steve, Brenda Osborne Collins, Lana Collins, Mike Beavers, Debbie Collins Rowe, Harvey Rowe and Valerie Evans Conner were at his bedside and they sang “Amazing Grace” in his last moments. He was buried at Lily Park Cemetery in Rainelle, WV. Survivors include a multitude of friends and relatives.

The family extends its' appreciation for all of the expressions of condolence they have received.

Anyone who cared about Farley or in some way was touched by his life is urged to create a living memorial to him. Please go out an perform acts of kindness in his memory.