Dr. Robert "Buddy" Collins III

Robert Walter Collins III, D.V.M, died peacefully on Sunday, December 10th, 2023 in Houston, TX. He was 79 and had been a resident of Houma for most of his life. Born on December 4, 1944, in New Orleans, LA, to parents Samuel Clark Collins and Tom Turner Collins, Dr. Collins entered a world where his father was an esteemed town physician and his mother a fixture on the local school board. A proud representative of the silent generation, he came of age during the idyllic 1950s, immersed in the cultural milieu that defined his era—Hardy Boys novels, Howdy Doody, and westerns starring John Wayne were staples of his childhood, adventurous tales that would foreshadow an eventful life. Attending Terrebonne High School and later graduating from Tulane University, where he was a member of Sigma Nu, Dr. Collins then enlisted in the U. S. Navy as an officer stationed in San Diego. Rising to the rank of lieutenant, he distinguished himself as a naval pilot during the Vietnam conflict, flying anti-submarine and reconnaissance missions from aircraft carriers. Following an honorable discharge, he earned his veterinary degree from Louisiana State University in 1981. During a brief stint in Tampa, FL, fate intervened as he met his future wife, Debra. Together, they returned to Houma, where they established a successful veterinary clinic at Southdown Animal Hospital and raised three children. Dr. Collins concluded his professional career with a much-deserved retirement in 2011. Affectionately known as “Buddy” and “Doc” among those who knew him, Dr. Collins exuded a genial, down-to-earth demeanor that masked a wealth of experiences and curiosity about the world. From his formative years well into adulthood, he cultivated a diverse array of interests, ranging from astronomy, stamp collecting, and meteorology to gardening, scuba diving, and bird watching. A devoted outdoorsman, he found solace in fishing off Last Island and duck hunting along the freshwater marshes of Southeastern Louisiana, where he maintained a hunting camp off the Intracoastal Canal. Yet, it was in America’s national parks and forests where he experienced his greatest connection with nature. Here, he reveled in the diversity and beauty of the American landscape, creating enduring memories during annual family road trips that had become cherished pilgrimages. In his later years, Dr. Collins enjoyed spending evenings with his family watching the films of Hollywood’s heyday on Turner Classic Movies. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Debra Hevia Collins of Houma; by his eldest son, Thomas H. Collins and daughter-in-law Xiaojuan W. Collins, both of Rochester, Vermont; by his daughter, Rosa C. Cavalier and son-in-law Dustin C. Cavalier, both of Houston, TX; by his youngest son Robert W. Collins IV of Houma, LA; by his sister Martha C. Johnson of Winnetka, IL; and by two grandchildren. His sister, Anne Clark Collins Mackey predeceased him in 1982. There will be a small service for immediate family members. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the National Audubon Society.

Dr. Robert "Buddy" Collins III

December 4, 1944 - December 10, 2023