MANLIUS -- Greg Collis was a highly trained pilot with more than two decades of experience flying planes. He was also certified to fly helicopters - an impressive achievement for an amateur pilot. On Thursday afternoon, family and friends were shocked to hear that Collis and his wife Pindi Williams had died in a small plane crash in Kansas. The couple were flying across country to visit family in Arizona and California.

"It was shocking for us because he was so good," said relative Joy Weatherup-Anthis. "He didn't fly yearly, he didn't fly monthly, he flew weekly. Unless there was bad weather he didn't fly commercial he flew his planes."

Collis and Williams had been married for more than eight years. He owned several assisted living homes in the Syracuse area and she helped with the business. All around Manlius and Pompey, Collis and Williams were known for being available to lend a helping hand.

"Pindi was the sweetest person in the world, who had a wonderful smile - just a sweet kind caring person," said family friend Beth Peppone.

Collis was a member of the Manlius Chamber of Commerce and his family said he treated everyone who lived in one of his assisted living homes like they were his own parents.

"He made them feel like they were on their own and in charge of their lives," said Nelina Weatherup-Dentes. "Because what's important is that they don't lose their sense of independence and that's the way Gregory was."

Both friends and family members described Collis and Williams as inseparable and "a marriage of best friends."

"It's tragic but I can say to myself, they were together at the end," said Beth Peppone. "I don't think one would want to go without the other."