Clyde Collins Sr.

Clyde Edward Collins Sr., 89, passed away May 11, 2022, in The Woodlands, Texas. Clyde was born in Galveston, Texas at home. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years-Aline Gust Collins [7-13-2016], his parents, Eck and Carrie Mae Armstrong Collins. His sister Josie Pearl Standley and Woodard, his brother Wallace Collins and his wife Barbara, his brother Horace Collins and wife Dorothy. Dear sweet Clyde, the man with the best smile around, was born to a former Texas Ranger turned entrepreneur turned Southern Pacific Railroad Detective and a widowed, God-loving Three Rivers Native. Clyde’s foundation was formed by his mother’s fierce devotion to God and family. His father instilled a strong work ethic and a spirit of adventure. Clyde’s humble beginnings never defined him. He learned early how to work hard and contribute to the family. He worked at the grocery store, he was a courier for Ridgeway, he built fences and trimmed trees. He told stories of how he loved to be high up in the trees looking around at the world. He was struck by lightning while up in tree. Never phased him. He proudly joined the United States Army on December 30,1952, becoming Private Clyde Collins. He spent his basic training near San Francisco and then spent many months at Fort Campbell in Kentucky at Paratrooper School. Clyde loved the military life but missed his family. With the backdrop of the Korean War-he was stationed to Fairbanks Alaska. This is where one Texas boy discovered what cold meant. Unfortunately, the Army would lose Clyde to a lifelong injury of his eye, and he next ended up in San Antonio at Brook Army Hospital. His best buddy and lifelong friend Bill Baldwin visited Clyde in the hospital and cheered him up by telling him that he had met this girl. He famously told Clyde, she’s too wild for me but she’s perfect for you. When Dad got home to Houston, he met that “Little Wild Girl”, her name was Aline Gust. He met her Christmas Eve, was engaged on Valentine’s Day, and married her on March 2, 1956. Clyde proudly drove Aline around in his shiny new 1956 Chevrolet. And man did he drive fast… only over 100 miles an hour would do. Clyde was able to buy that new Chevy because almost all the money he sent home to his Momma to take care of her and his Daddy, she put it in a savings account. So, after returning home from the service, much to his surprise, Clyde had more money than he had ever seen. Clyde would now have a lifelong love affair with Aline, Chevrolet and anything that burned diesel. Clyde and Aline spent the next couple of years racing cars and meeting friends at Prince’s Drive-in on Main Street in Houston. Clyde had already secured a job at Browning & Ferris in Downtown Houston. His 2 new Brother-in-Laws, Kenneth Mihills and Glen Henderson already worked there. Dad honed his abilities to repair tractors, Drag-Lines, Earthmovers… anything that burned diesel. Dad settled into life and he learned how to really have a good time with all the in-laws. He fished, hunted ducks, gathered Oysters at Freeport and truly became a bona fide beer drinker. Pearl beer was his drink of choice. There was plenty of Lone Star Beer if he ran out of his favorite. Clyde and Aline were blessed with 3 children, Carrie, the 1st and named after Clyde’s beloved Mother. Then came King Edward as he called his namesake, Clyde Edward (Ed) Jr. And last, but surely not least came Jeffrey. The baby of the family who (according to the other 2 children) got to do everything they never got to do. Browning & Ferris became Plains Machinery and then Waukesha Pearce. Clyde traveled the back roads of Texas and throughout the United States and even Puerto Rico where he visited many a construction site to become a first-class, A no. 1 diesel mechanic. Clyde was so dedicated that he was stuck by lightening a second time while trying to finish up on a dragline that a construction foreman needed to finish a project. Didn’t even phase him again. He used to smile and say, “I’m going to put my healing hands on this piece of equipment and listen to her sing”. Speaking of singing, Clyde was a man who loved music. Not just any music but Hillbilly Music. He knew all the words and would sing to the heavens with his favorite singers. Clyde was a simple man with simple wants in Life. He was content with a great wife, a wonderful job and 3 children he loved deeply. He fulfilled his life-long dream of owning what he called a home that was bigger than he needed and some land where no one could live right next door. The family moved to that home in Spring on Thanksgiving in 1969. That is the home he still lived in until his passing. He worked hard to make sure the family had all the basics and some pretty good extra frills in Life. He always had a big smile and took all of life’s ups and downs in stride. He loved being outdoors and Hard to figure how many lawnmowers he worn out. Aline kept him in line and they enjoyed working in the yard. Dad had many life-long friends. He truly enjoyed being with all this fellow mechanics, especially, Billy Phalen, John Marshall who he only knew as “John Boy”, Richard Hamilton, and Jim Dolby. Clyde would tell you he didn’t have a desire for much but the love of a good wife, happy, healthy kids, plenty of beer, chewing tobacco and being able to see the Blue Sky above. He told everyone that he thought life was good but when his Grandson Brandon was born… he felt more joy than any man deserved. Clyde could turn a phase… he had nicknames for everything and some hilarious sayings. Everyone knew that he could do anything a purple bear could do. He would say God and the Rain will make it ok. He was pretty laid back so to speak. He squeezed every good thing he could out of Life. Brandon, his Grandson joined the Army and Clyde was elated. Someone else he could salute with. He loved this country and always had Old Glory waving in the wind at home. Clyde even made the best of things when he lost his Aline. He just continued and was privileged to live long enough to see all his children happy, long enough to have fun with all the Great-Grandchildren (Or the Little opossums) as he affectionately called them and long enough to reflect on all the Gifts the Good Lord had blessed him with. RIP Clyde, Sweet, Clyde (Get em - Boy named Sue).

Clyde Collins Sr.

November 30, 1932 - May 11, 2022