Mildred “Marie” Collins, lovingly known as “Memaw,” passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026, at the age of 88 and went to be with Jesus.

She was born on August 18, 1937, in Gilbert, Louisiana to Murray and Ida Ezell Caldwell. Throughout her life, she was devoted to her family and will be remembered for her love, kindness, and unwavering support of those she cared for. She took great pride in her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she adored from the moment they were born.

Marie attended Wisner High School and later Northeast Louisiana State College where she majored in elementary education. She devoted 28 years to teaching fourth grade at Highland Elementary touching the lives of countless students through her career. During this time, she continued her education at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, earning a master’s degree in education. Marie was also a devoted member of the ADK Sorority for more than 20 years, serving as chaplain for many of those years.

To know Marie was to love her. The love she had for her friends and family mirrored the love she had given so freely throughout her life — pure, constant, and unconditional.

She was preceded in death by her parents Murray and Ida Ezell Caldwell; brother, Michael Caldwell better known as “Daddy Mike”; and her granddaughter, Sarah Pospisil.

She is survived by her children: Kip Gates (Ramona “Monie”); Tray Gates; Lori Skow (Jerry); her grandchildren: Elaina Treadaway (Zac); Brittany Breard (Graves); Emily Torres (Chris); and Caroline Duffy (Dan); her great-grandchildren: Parker Breard, Henley Treadaway, Adelyn Breard, Bentley Pospisil, and McKinley Torres, and other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 10:15 A.M. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, 2308 Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA, with Rev. Jordy McKaskle officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home. A reception for friends and family will be held afterward at the Gates’ home.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Cherry Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility in Bastrop, LA, especially head nurse Cindy and all her caretakers for their compassion, kindness and dedicated care to Mom “Memaw” for these last 16 months.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.