On Friday March 5, 2021, Christiane Collins, long time resident of Hemphill passed from this life. She was 77. Christiane was born August 6, 1943 in Kitzingen, Germany the youngest child of the Karl Brand family. In October 1962 she married Hemphill native Henry F. Smith who was stationed in her hometown with the United States Army. In March of 1963, she moved with her new husband to his hometown of Hemphill, Texas USA. Though it was no doubt hard to adjust to life in a new place with a language she did not yet know how to speak, being welcomed into the Smith household made the transition easier. Her father in law Floyd and mother in law Lois offered her much support in the years that followed. She always referred to them as momma and daddy. Her husband Henry, the eldest of the family, introduced her to his brothers, Ronnie, Paul and Richard and his sisters, Annette and Linda.

Eight years after arriving to Hemphill, she became a naturalized citizen of the USA on March 16, 1971. On April 2, 1971 she married again. This time to Joseph Aaron Collins, bringing her two small children, Kimberly and Karl into the Collins family which consisted of one minor daughter named Jennifer Kay, 4 adult daughters, Ora Jean, Vada Mae, Lillian (Bea) and Debbie, and one adult son named Jerry. This new family was not exactly the Brady bunch, but there was much love, laughter and fun shared among them in the years that followed. Camping trips, annual family reunions, trips to Astroworld and other road trips were among the many activities that they joyfully shared together.

Christiane was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Aaron Collins and his son Jerry, her father and mother, and her in-laws, Momma and Daddy Smith, and three brothers and one sister.

She is survived by the two children she birthed, and the children of her late husband, and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren who all lovingly called her Granny Chris.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 8, 2021 at Starr Funeral Home, 510 Starr Street, Hemphill, Texas.

Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Starr Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Richard Smith officiating.

Burial will follow services at the Hemphill Cemetery with Joshua Smith, Ryan Smith, Gavin Smith, Benjamin McCoy, Robert Vrooman and Aron Collins serving as pallbearers.

Condolences can be made and guest book can be signed online at starrfuneralhome.com.