Toni Ann Collins

Toni Ann “Feedi” Collins, 53, of Ellenton Florida passed away Saturday, September 26, 2015. She is preceded in death by her father Richard B. Massey whom she adored, respected, and greatly missed. She is survived by her most precious grandchildren, Joshua Kobe Bush, 14, Brandon Michael Knight, 10, Bobby Lebron Bush, 6 and Blake Allen Bush, 4. They were her daily enjoyment and she gladly invested all her energy, love, and wisdom into them. She is also survived by her son, Bobby Lee Bush, mother Shirley Massey, Sister Kathy Hoff, Brothers Richard “Doodlebug” Massey and Robert Massey, Nieces Amanda Goddard, and Sirena Massey, nephews Brandon Goddard, Richard Massey, and Brian Massey, great nephew Kenneth Eugene Chambers IV, many aunts, uncles, cousins , and more close and caring friends than can be listed here.

Feedi’s gift to this world was her enormous capacity to truly love and accept you and to be sure to let you know about it. She did not meet a stranger. Her calling in life was to nurture others and every day that she was able, she lived her days looking for ways to be the one to do so. Even through her own personal pain and often injury, she would be there when you needed her. She loved you before you loved her. She understood you before you understood yourself. She forgave you before you asked. She died holding nothing against anyone. To those who asked the question of her about eternity she assured them that she was forgiven and at peace with the Lord; in fact had regular conversations with Him, no doubt lifting up those she knew who needed the help she had difficulty providing. Her legacy will be lived out in those she knew and are better people because of it. Although her formal education was short, she was an avid reader and keen observer of life and used the successes and failures of others as well as her own in order to guide those she helped. Many lives were redirected for the better because of her great love and wisdom and sincere desire to give others an easier path to walk.

Feedi had many jobs outside the home and everywhere she went she organized and made things more efficient, and always brought humor into situations. She did whatever she needed to do and made the best of it. No matter the task she did it with pride, and without question, gave more than the employer expected. “Leave things better than you found them” was part of the wisdom she imparted to us all.

Besides being a lover, teacher, best friend, and overall amazing person, Feedi loved sitting outside and watching nature. If you visited with her there was always an extra chair. Many memories of her will be with the backdrop of greenery, a mossy oak, and a breeze. She also loved music and many stories of her making us all listen to Helen Reddy and old country music usually end in the agreement that we all love those songs now. One line from a song on her “My Happy Songs” CD is “She made a mountain of love from a little grain of sand”. Yes, she did.

A celebration of life will be held where she lived, at the Highway Shores Park 4901 US Hwy 301 North in Ellenton, FL on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Potluck sides are appreciated but not required. Parking will be marked. Come as you are!

DONATIONS: If you would like to remember Feedi here is what you do: show someone love by looking for a need and helping out. Take time to fully express to someone else how much you love them either in person, on the phone, or in writing. Create memories of joy and let go of what pains you. Educate a young person to make right choices and love them through the bad ones