Terry Collins

Rockport, TX


Terry Gene Collins, 75, of Rockport, Texas passed away November 19, 2018. Terry was born in Great Bend, Kansas on November 5, 1943 to Sanford Collins and Frances Thurman Collins. Terry grew up in Marshall, Texas where he was the pitcher for Marshall High School's state-winning baseball team. He graduated high school in 1961.

Terry attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He graduated from U.T. in 1966, then attended law school at The University of Houston. While in law school, he was a part time junior-high history teacher. He was admitted to the Bar in 1970 and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County from 1970-1974 before establishing a private practice as a board certified criminal defense attorney with other Houston attorneys that became his life-long friends. He practiced law for almost 49 years and handled over 20,000 cases. Terry is famous for being the first attorney to have business cards with your legal rights written inside, and for his trademark beard.

In addition to loving the law, Terry loved family. On April 18, 1987, he married his "lady in red", Linda Marie Turner Collins and after many years of fishing vacations in Rockport-Fulton, he and Linda moved permanently to the area in 1997. Terry built a small law practice and quickly became part of the Rockport-Fulton family. He was a member of the Key Allegro Yacht Club and Rockport Country Club. He and Linda loved their Copano Bay home and especially their pier. Terry has three children: Kendall, from his first wife, Susan Henderson, and Stacy and Tommy. Together, they loved animals - lots and lots of animals. They had dogs, cats and most recently, added a flock of guineas to their furry and feathered family.

In recent years, Terry also discovered a new passion, the "practice" of golf. A natural athlete and former marathon runner, Terry quickly picked up the game, and he and Linda played often. He loved golf, even though his short game didn't always love him back. He also taught criminal law classes at St. Leo University. He found great joy in teaching others how to love the law.

Terry was a great story-teller and over his life and career, his collection of interesting and entertaining stories grew, even though he seemed to tell the same ones over and over. He finally agreed to compile a collection of some of his best stories in his "Tales of a Texas Lawyer", with a prologue that reads "read the book, and I think you will discover that the laugh is likely on me and I have written the book to make us both smile, so have fun and enjoy!"

He loved jokes. Mainly dumb-jokes…and because of his clumsy-nature and goofy sense of humor his family and close friends lovingly referred to him as Mr. MaGoo.

Terry was caring, thoughtful, smart, handsome, and his personality would humbly fill a room. He lived with honesty and integrity above everything else. Most of all, he loved life. He loved to laugh. He loved to love.

Terry is preceded in death by his father, Sanford; his mother, Frances; and his brother, Sandy. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Kendall Smith (Rusty) of Midland, Texas; and their children, Elizabeth and Collins; daughter, Stacy Wussow (Shawn); and their daughter, Zoë of Spring Lake, North Carolina; son, Tommy Reifel (Alma); his daughter, Kirsten; and their two sons, Kaylob and Noah of Plato, Missouri; and two nephews, Key Collins of Houston, King Collins of California and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Terry's Life will be held Monday, November 26, 2018 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass, Texas at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please support your charity of choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.charliemarshallfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements entrusted to:

Charlie Marshall Funeral Homes and Crematory

2003 W. Wheeler Ave

Aransas Pass, Texas 78336

361-758-3221

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