James "Jim" Francis Collins

James “Jim” F. Collins, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 85. Born on May 5, 1939, in Seattle, Washington, to Marie (O’Dore) Collins and James J.M. Collins. Jim spent his childhood in Seattle, where he attended St. John’s grade school and later O’Dea High School.

A man of deep faith, Jim was active in the Catholic community throughout his life. He served as an altar boy, a Eucharistic Minister, and a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. His commitment to faith and service extended beyond the church, as he dedicated his time as a coach, mentor, and Athletic Director for CYO sports.

Jim proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, specializing in linguistics. Following his service, he embarked on a distinguished career as a United States Postal Inspector, where he specialized in federal fraud crimes. After retiring from the Postal Service, he continued his work in fraud investigation with USAA for another decade.

In April 1966, Jim married the love of his life, Patricia (Doherty) Collins. The two had met in the third grade, and together they built a beautiful life in Edmonds, Washington, where they raised their children, Tony and Kim. Jim and Pat were married for 49 years until her passing.

A devoted family man, Jim was a hands-on father and a loving grandfather. He cherished his time with his three granddaughters, Hailey, Makayla, and Kate. He was known for his handyman skills, his love of gardening, and his passion for golf. Jim also enjoyed traveling, watching Western movies, and cheering on the Mariners and Seahawks.

Later in life, Jim found love again and married Judy (Fordon) Collins in February 2019. Together, they embraced life’s adventures, traveling, playing games, and creating lasting memories with family and friends.

Jim was an active member of his community, deeply involved with the VFW and the American Legion. He was also a longtime parishioner of Holy Rosary Church, where he continued his lifelong commitment to service.

Jim is preceded in death by his first wife, Pat. He leaves behind his loving wife, Judy; his son, Tony (Amy) Collins; his daughter, Kim (Eric) Zimmerman; and his cherished granddaughters, Hailey, Makayla, and Kate. He will be remembered as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend, whose kindness, faith, and unwavering love for his family left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church in Edmonds on March 14th at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline on March 17th at 1:30 p.m, In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation in Jim’s honor.