Raymond James Collins Jr.

Raymond James Collins, Jr. of Traverse City, MI passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024 in Robertsdale, AL. Also affectionately known as Bo or Jungle depending on when and how you met him, Ray was born in Manistee, MI on December 21, 1949 to Raymond and Phoebe (Culver) Collins. He was one of five children, the only brother to four sisters. His family was his biggest source of pride and he experienced great joy from big get-togethers, especially at their family cabins on Bass Lake. Ray spent his formative years in Birmingham, MI and then moved to Traverse City where he graduated high school in 1967 before going on to study at the University of Michigan. An athlete himself growing up, Ray was a superfan of the Michigan Wolverines football team and enjoyed many Saturdays watching “his” team, in addition to reserving Sundays for the Detroit Lions. He was thrilled to have the chance to see Michigan win a National Championship and two whole Lions playoff wins in the months before his passing. While Ray worked a handful of different jobs in his life, from car sales to computer repair, his greatest passion was for performing. Ray was a member of several groups through the years, but was most well-known for being a singer (and tambourine and kazoo player) in Sh-Boom, performing in various venues around northern lower Michigan for many, many years. When not performing himself, he would catch local shows and would often end up singing along, full voice and in harmony. It was through entertaining others that Ray built community, and it sometimes seemed like you could not walk down a single city block with him without him knowing someone. In his later years, Ray enjoyed winters on the Gulf in Alabama, taking in the warmer weather and making new friends. Ray is preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law William Brown and Charles “Topper” Carey, and daughter Morgan Collins. He is survived by his children Hayley (James) Mercéus-Collins and Joel Collins; sisters Rosemarie “Posie” Brown, Marion “Lou” (Larry) Fay, Phoebe “Lorrie” Collins DeVol, and Nina (Stephen) Merten; partner Mary “Cookie” Brackenrich; and a large number of wonderful first-, second-, and even third- nieces and nephews. His family invites you to join them in celebrating Ray’s life at the patio of Brady’s Bar from 1-4pm on Saturday, June 8th for food, drinks, and recordings from his collection. Please feel free to come and go on the schedule that works best for you. This will be a casual event. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to Interlochen Center for the Arts, an organization with family significance and with a mission he greatly appreciated. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Ray’s family at his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Raymond James Collins Jr.

December 21, 1949 - March 1, 2024