Well-heeled women of Everett were secure with hair stylist Nancy Collins.
As they were coiffed by Collins skilled hands, customers spilled the beans about their personal lives.
That is the way of beauty shops.
“Her clientele was the muck-a-muck of Everett,” said her friend, Colleen Scanlan. “She had a huge clientele because she didn’t gossip.”
Collins retired from the salon business in 2003, after 40 years in the industry, but carried her tools to do hair at hospitals, nursing homes and even funeral parlors.
Nancy Kathryn Collins died of cancer Oct. 21 at her home in Marysville. She was born Aug. 21, 1943, to Floyd and Frances Sanderson of Everett. She graduated from Everett High School in 1962 and Everett Community College Beauty School in 1964.
Joan Cornfield said her sister battled an aggressive form of cancer when she was 19.
“They were able to give her chemotherapy,” Cornfield said. “She did survive, but she could never have children.”
That didn’t matter to her high school sweetheart, Hills Collins, who married her 44 years ago.
Her sister wore a wig to the wedding, Cornfield said.
Joyce Nichols said her niece was more like a sister. They wore the same wedding dress Nichols bought at Chaffee’s in Everett.
Her niece met fellow stylist, Scanlan, in 1987. Nancy Collins became like a mother to her, Scanlan said. When Scanlan had two children, her friend became like a grandmother to Jane and Ray.
A holiday lover, she decorated her home for every occasion. She was an accomplished cook who made fabulous macaroni and cheese. She didn’t watch much television, rather read books she swapped with her sister.
Nancy Kathryn Collins is survived by her husband of 44 years; her sister, Joan, and Richard Cornfield; her aunt, Joyce, and Jim Nichols; her aunt, Evelyn; stepmother, Bev Sanderson; and stepsister, Terry Treibel. She is also survived by close cousins, Tom and Sandy Murray, Judy Wagner, Jim and Cindy Lovel and Jan and Bob Mack. Other survivors include childhood friends Janet Dunlap and Sharon Stiverson; sisters-in-law Jane Dourte, Janet and Bill Slesk. and Verna Colson.
Collins was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Stephen.
Nancy and Hills Collins joined the Snohomish County Dahlia Society in 1998.
“Whenever a new waterlily dahlia came up for bid at a tuber auction or sale, you could always count on Nancy to join in the bidding war,” said Danielle Parshall. “She and Hills grew them beautifully and won many prizes with their waterlilies as well as other dahlia types.”
The club honored the Collinses in August for their above and beyond contributions.
“At every tuber sale, you could count on Nancy to bring the best little sandwiches,” Parshall said. “She did it because she was a kind, caring and thoughtful person whom everyone respected and loved.”
Scanlan described her friend, a fan of the University of Washington Huskies, as wise beyond her years, a collector of Snowbabies figurines, a good businesswoman and a person with terrible handwriting who didn’t like chewing gum.
Her husband said his wife didn’t tolerate clutter. He would go fishing (an activity she didn’t enjoy) and come home to find their truck loaded for the dump.
Cancer returned in 2006 and 2008. In the past months, Nancy Collins talked about her impending death. She specified what she wanted to wear when the time came.
“She could handle a lot,” Scanlan said. “She could handle a lot, except not being with Hills.”
They truly adored each other, she said.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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