Shirley Rose (Pinard) Collins was born to Virgil Hiram Pinard and Hazel Elizabeth (Tanner) Pinard at 1089 James Street across from the Darigold plant in Chehalis on Jan. 23, 1939.
After her family moved to Centralia when she was a year old, she attended Hub City schools. A proud member of the Orange and Black Class of 1958, circumstances necessitated that Shirley Rose complete her schooling at Toledo High School. Unconditionally family-centered, she grew up with her big brother, Glen Pinard, sisters Virginia Ricker, Marlene Cothren, Bonnie Belle Pinard and Marilyn Pinard, and nieces Starrla Rivera and Alanna Sequeira.
Movies and music were her touchstones. Her father, who worked for several carnival enterprises, had a brief Ferris wheel scene with James Dean and Julie Harris in the movie East of Eden. Shirley Rose was all-in on that generation of larger-than-life stars: Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Marilyn Monroe. But there were other favorites, such as when a dime bought her a ticket to the Fox Theater and a ride with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Trigger. In the 70s, there was no bigger fan of the singer Tom Jones.
Raised in the church, Shirley Rose was a woman of faith. From age 6 until she left home, she religiously attended the historic John and Irma Mincher Pentecostal Mission on North Tower Avenue in Centralia, never missing a Sunday service. She was also a graduate of Sunbeams offered through the Salvation Army at the church and chapel just down the block from the family home in the Logan District.
When Shirley Rose saw Harold Collins for the first time, he was sitting behind the wheel of his turquoise and white Plymouth Savoy parked in front of her mother’s house. Following a whirlwind, three-week courtship, they eloped to Stevenson, Washington, where a justice of the peace united them in marriage on April 15, 1957. Harold had a wandering spirit. The couple lived in many towns in Washington and other states. They had four children: Harold (Romana), Cary (Tina), Cindy and Cheryl (Tim); 11 grandchildren: James Collins, Nick Collins, Danny Sapp, T. J. Sapp, Mike Conca, Shawnee Conca, Alanna Collins-Perez, Tyler Clark, Christie Clark, Saraya Counley, and Cody Clark; and 15 great-grandchildren. Shirley Rose is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Shirley Rose traveled a path strewn with landmines. Hers was a life that was never easy, but she persevered and did her best. You couldn’t ask for a better and more loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and all the money in the world can’t buy you that.
Shirley Rose has now passed into the bright light of night.
Rest easy, Mom. We love you and miss you dearly.
A celebration of life is planned for late July 2023.
Written by Cary Collins
