Albert "Buddy" Collins

Albert Francis Collins, age 91, a life-long resident of Morgan City, died Friday, April 20, 2012 with his loving wife by his side. Visitation will be held from 8:00-10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. This will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial which will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Church. Mr. Collins will be laid to rest in the Berwick Cemetery with military honors provided by the East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad. Mr. Collins, known as “Buddy” by friends and family, was born on April 2, 1921, the son of James A. Collins and Annie Levert Collins. Mr. Collins is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Maria Schmeling Collins; two sons, Thomas J. Collins and wife Penny, of Lafayette and James J. Collins and wife, Amy, of Lexington, Ky; two daughters, Karen Collins Marin and husband, Bill, of Patterson and Lynn Collins Theriot and husband, Ben, of Louisville, Ky; eleven grandchildren; Kristin Collins Descant, Erin Collins Wheeler, Jason Collins, Amy Collins Baillio, James J. Collins, Jr., Kathleen Collins Aguilar, Gregory Collins, Samantha Napoli, Bennett Theriot, Blake Theriot, Victoria Theriot; four step-grandchildren: Robert Marin, Toni Marin Icard, Katie Marin Lasseigne, William Marin; seven great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren; niece Cheryl Golden Darce and nephew Peter Schmeling of Nuremberg, Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Elvera Collins Golden; half-brothers, John L. Collins and James A. Collins; half-sisters, Violet “Bop” Collins Winchester Knybel and Ophelia Collins Robichaux Mr. Collins served in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War II and achieved the military rank of Technical Sergeant. He enjoyed a long and happy working career at Shannon’s Hardware in Morgan City. After his retirement, one of his greatest joys was building birdhouses for his children and grandchildren in his workshop. Pallbearers will be Jason Collins, James Collins, Jr., Gregory Collins, Morgan Descant, Ben Theriot, Bill Marin. Honorary Pallbearer will be Donald "Dutch" Grayson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Morgan City Chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars, P.O. Box 449, Morgan City, LA 70381, (985) 385-2474 or at www.vfw.org