Walter Terrell "Terry" Collins, Jr.

Walter Terrell “Terry” Collins, Jr., age 72, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2020 at his home in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

He was born on August 18, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas to Walter Terrell “Rip” Collins and Patrice Fagan “Nannie” Collins.  He was a 1965 graduate of Lake Charles High School.  He earned a track and field scholarship from McNeese State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1970 and married the love of his life in the same year, Christine Huval Collins.  They moved to Oklahoma where he started his career at Cities Service (now Citgo).  Terry also went on to earn his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering.  After working in production with Cities Service and serving in the Army Reserves for five years, the couple moved back to Lake Charles, LA in 1975.  Terry worked for Cities Service for the next 10 years in the Refinery until his entrepreneurial spirit gave way and he paused his engineering career to start his own businesses.  He was a co-owner of Collins Toyota, founder and CEO at Collins Pontiac GMC and owner of Lake Charles Ceiling Fans for the next 10 years of his life.  Terry returned to Citgo in operations and retired from Citgo after another 25 years of service.

Terry was a quiet, pensive, compassionate, and intelligent man that lived for God and his family.  He was soft spoken and kind, but when he had something to say, everyone listened.  He was very passionate about his Catholic faith and led many to Christ by his humble example.  He named both of his daughters’ first names Mary and honored the mother of our Lord until the day he died.

Terry loved to be outdoors.  He was an avid fisherman most of his life and enjoyed sports.  Above all, Terry’s most active role was being a father to his four children.  He loved coaching his sons at baseball, his youngest daughter at softball, taking his eldest daughter to father-daughter scary movie date nights and fishing with all of his children.  He loved being an LSU fan and watching all the games with his youngest son.  Terry was patient, kind and he could fix absolutely anything.  There was very rarely a contractor or technician at the Collins house.  Along with his quiet and thoughtful manner, he was a man of honor and integrity.  All who knew Terry respected him.

He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Christine Huval Collins; his daughter, Alicia Stanley and husband Chad; son, Walter Terrell Collins, III and Michelle; daughter, Alexandra Collins; and son, Christian Collins.  He is also survived by his grandchildren that he deeply loved, Elena Stanley, Ella Stanley, Tanner Collins, Thomas Collins, Tyler Collins, and Ethan Stanley.  Terry is also survived by his siblings, Patsi Prince, Peggy Johnson, and Stevie Collins.

From 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, August 17, family and friends of Terry’s are invited to a celebration of life at Johnson Funeral Home…to reminisce, grieve, support each other, and of course, just talk.  A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 PM.

Funeral mass for Terry will be held at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.  Monsignor Daniel Torres will officiate.  Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery.  Pallbearers are:  Terrell Collins, Christian Collins, David Huval, Hubert Huval, Thomas Landers, and Willie Hamilton.  Honorary pallbearers are Stevie Collins and Chad Stanley.

In compliance with the current COVID 19 order, we respectfully request gatherings be limited and all attendants wear face masks.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Harbor Hospice and a heartfelt thank you to his beloved caregivers, Terrell Collins, Charlotte Baudoin, Barbara Goodman and Mariossa Simon, whose devoted love and care will be eternally remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer Foundation at alzfdn.org.  The family of Terry Collins is very passionate about finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and ending this type of pain for another loving family.