Lance​ ​Garth​ ​Collins,​ ​73,​ ​of​ ​Sandy​ ​Creek​ ​NY,​ ​passed​ ​away​ ​peacefully​ ​on​ ​Friday​ ​October​ ​27th, 2017​ ​at​ ​Upstate​ ​University​ ​Hospital​ ​where​ ​he​ ​was​ ​surrounded​ ​by​ ​his​ ​loving​ ​family. 

 Calling​ ​hours​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​Friday​ ​November​ ​3rd,​ ​2017​ ​at​ ​Summerville​ ​Funeral​ ​Home​ ​in​ ​Sandy Creek​ ​NY​ ​from​ ​12-2pm,​ ​Funeral​ ​will​ ​begin​ ​at​ ​3pm.​ ​A​ ​celebration​ ​of​ ​life​ ​will​ ​follow​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Sandy Creek​ ​firehall.​ ​In​ ​lieu​ ​of​ ​flowers​ ​contributions​ ​can​ ​be​ ​made​ ​to​ ​Lance's​ ​wife,​ ​Rita​ ​Collins. 

 Lance​ ​was​ ​the​ ​oldest​ ​of​ ​six​ ​children,​ ​Born​ ​April​ ​24th​ ​1944​ ​in​ ​Plattsburgh​ ​NY​ ​to​ ​the​ ​late​ ​Owen and​ ​Louise​ ​Collins.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​survived​ ​by​ ​his​ ​loving​ ​wife​ ​Rita​ ​Collins​ ​of​ ​54​ ​years.​ ​His​ ​siblings,​ ​Sheila Clark​ ​of​ ​Sandy​ ​Creek​ ​NY,​ ​Linda​ ​Booth​ ​of​ ​Watertown​ ​NY,​ ​John​ ​Collins​ ​of​ ​Sandy​ ​Pond​ ​NY,​ ​and Debbie​ ​Collins​ ​of​ ​Watertown​ ​NY.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​predeceased​ ​by​ ​his​ ​brother​ ​Larry​ ​Collins​ ​of​ ​Sandy​ ​Creek NY.​ ​Lance​ ​was​ ​a​ ​loving​ ​Husband,​ ​Father,​ ​Brother,​ ​Grandfather,​ ​and​ ​Friend​ ​to​ ​all.​ ​He​ ​was especially​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​his​ ​children;​ ​Cindy​ ​Francis​ ​of​ ​Sandy​ ​Creek​ ​NY,​ ​Laurie​ ​Nichols​ ​of​ ​Lacona NY,​ ​Terry​ ​Balcom​ ​(Kip)​ ​of​ ​Pulaski​ ​NY,​ ​Tracy​ ​Porter​ ​(Jeff)​ ​of​ ​Mannsville​ ​NY,​ ​Sherry​ ​Gray​ ​of Sandy​ ​Creek​ ​NY,​ ​Wendy​ ​Smith​ ​(Scott)​ ​of​ ​Pulaski​ ​NY,​ ​and​ ​Lance​ ​Collins​ ​(Stephanie)​ ​of​ ​Sandy Pond​ ​NY.​ ​Lance​ ​had​ ​many​ ​grandchildren,​ ​great​ ​grandchildren,​ ​nieces,​ ​nephews,​ ​and​ ​extended family.  

 Lance​ ​was​ ​employed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Local​ ​Union​ ​545​ ​Operating​ ​Engineers​ ​for​ ​45​ ​years​ ​(1965-2009) when​ ​he​ ​retired​ ​.​ ​Aside​ ​from​ ​being​ ​a​ ​hard​ ​working​ ​man,​ ​devoted​ ​husband​ ​and​ ​father,​ ​Lance​ ​had a​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​farming,​ ​raising​ ​his​ ​cattle.​ ​He​ ​had​ ​a​ ​love​ ​for​ ​nature,​ ​he​ ​enjoyed​ ​taking​ ​long​ ​walks and​ ​rides​ ​and​ ​took​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of​ ​natures​ ​beauty.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​a​ ​family​ ​man​ ​who​ ​loved​ ​spending​ ​quality time​ ​with​ ​them.​ ​He​ ​had​ ​a​ ​smile​ ​and​ ​a​ ​twinkle​ ​in​ ​his​ ​eye​ ​that​ ​will​ ​be​ ​missed​ ​by​ ​many.   

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