His death certificate records Emery Collins, age 33 years 6 months 24 days, born 4 Aug 1903 in Bath Co., Ky, died 28 Feb 1937 in Lemon township, Butler Co., Ohio, residence Clifton Farms, RR 1, occupation rigger for ARMCO, father Bryant Collins, mother’s maiden name Elizabeth Carter, both born in Salt Lick, Ky, cause of death shock from multiple burns and from inhilation of smoke, accident occurred while at work at ARMCO, clothes ignited from torch, informant Alma Collins, RR 1, Middletown, Ohio, burial in Salt Lick, Ky.

The Rowan County News of Thursday, March 11, 1937 contained this account:

“Funeral services for Emory Collins of Middletown, Ohio, were held on Thursday at Pokesville, in Bath County and were conducted by Rev. Worley Hall.

Mr. Collins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Collins. He leaves besides his parents, his wife who was Alma Pettit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Pettit, and three children to mourn his loss. All were residents of Rowan County until a short time ago.

Mr. Collins was working with a construction company. In some way his clothing caught fire from the torch with which he was working while forty feet in the air. By the time he reached the ground he was so badly burned that nothing could be done for him, and he died fourteen hours later.

The funeral was attended by Mrs. Noah Hall, Mrs. Claude Brown and Mrs. Worley Hall.”

Noah and Worley Hall were brothers, sons of Buddy Hall and Sarah Riddle. Mrs. Noah Hall was the former Nannie Gregory. Mrs. Worley Hall was born Alpha Mauk. Mrs. Claude Brown was Noah and Nannie’s daughter Pearl. They were all related on the Riddle side to Alma. (Willie Pettit’s mother Mary Susan Riddle was a sister of Sarah Riddle Hall, making Noah and Worley first cousins once removed to Alma, and Pearl her second cousin.) So far as I know, there were no Hall or Riddle connections to Emery.

His stone in Polksville Cemetery reads “Emery Collins Aug 4, 1903 - Feb 28, 1937”.

Widowed at 34, Alma lived to 87 years old and never remarried. Her stone in Polksville Cemetery says "Alma Collins Feb 4, 1903 - Dec 13, 1990".

1930 census of Bath Co., Ky, White Sulphur precinct, enumerated 9 April, lists on p. 7B as family #170/171:
Collins, Emry, 26, age at first marriage 21; Alma, wife, 25, age at first marriage 20; Nona, dau, 2. All born Ky/Ky/Ky.