Artie F. Collins and Cora Mae Morrison were married Friday, June 13, 1947 in Kilgore, Texas. They have resided in Fort Scott for the past 42 years. He pastored the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott from 1965 to 1997. They have three children, Melanie Wilson and husband Gary, Artie F. Collins, Jr. (Chip) and wife Jeanette, and Roger Collins and wife Mary. They have nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.