McDonald "Ral" Ravelin Collins

M. R. Collins, Pioneer Merchant, Banker of Lusk, Dies in Douglas

Well-Known Citizen Succumbs Following Injury sustained in Fall at Home; No Funeral Arrangements Announced

Mr. R. Collins, president of the Douglas National Bank of Douglas, died at his home there Wednesday morning from complications resulting from a fall about a week ago, when he sustained a broken leg just below the hip.

Mr. Collins suffered the injury while watering the lawn at his home. He apparently slipped on the wet and icy grass, falling backward in a hole. The leg was set and he was apparently progressing nicely when complications set in and he failed to respond to treatment.

M. R. Collins, affectionately known to hundred of friends as "Ral" Collins, has been intimately connected with the business and social life of eastern Wyoming for almost half a century. He was one of the early merchants and bankers of Lusk, being a member of the firm of Collins and Snyder, a pioneer Lusk mercantile establishment and cashier of the Board of County Commissioners Bank of Lusk.

He was twice elected a member of Converse County while Lusk and contiguous territory was a part of Converse County.

Mr. Collins has made Douglas his home since 1924 and during his residence there has served that community as mayor, commissioner and member of the high school board. He was the first secretary of the former Wyoming State Fair and it was largely through his efforts that the Fort Fetterman U. S. wood reserve on Boxelder Creek was deeded to Converse County by the government for park purposes.

Although being a resident of Douglas for many years, he has always maintained business and social connections with Lusk. Only ten days ago he acted as honorary pallbearer at the funeral services of his old friend, E. B. Willson, of Lusk.

Mr. Collins was born in Dallas county, Iowa, November 9, 1868, being 66 years old at the time of his death.

He has been married twice, his first wife was Florence Jenks of Lusk, who lived only a few years after their marriage. To this union one daughter was born, now Mrs. Florence Peterson of California.

A number of years ago after moving to Douglas he was married to Mrs. Robert Potter, who survives him as also do a number of stepchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Emery and Wilkie, both of California.

Mr. Collins was a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason.

Funeral services will be held in Douglas at two o'clock Friday afternoon.

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