DeEstin "Doc" Collins, Jr.

Missoula - Our family is feeling a great sense of emptiness as we announce the passihg of our father DeEstin Collins Jr. better known to all as" Doc", on May13, 2024 at the age of 91.Dad was born as he told us, in a hay wagon out in the country in an area of Eastern Montana known as Powder River County. His parents were Edna and DeEstin Collins Sr. Dad had a step-sister he was very close to, he called her Diddy all of his life so we all have only ever known her as Aunt Diddy. She is deceased. Dad's upbringing was that of a hard working Montana farm boy. He carried the values and beliefs from his childhood with him his entire life. Hence his colorful vocabulary and personality. Dad quit school in 3rd grade and became a ranch hand working for his father on the cattle ranch his father ran in that Powder River area. This job afforded him the ability to purchase his first automobile at age 10. It was a beater as we all can imagine, but he cleaned it up and worked on it until he got it running. He said it got him to many a barn dance and 35 cent movies, he was very proud of the fact he had a car at such a young age. Dad joined the Navy December 16, 1952. He spent 4 years serving our country on a tanker ship called the USS Ashtabula, fueling our submarines in the dead of night out at sea. Dad very much enjoyed his time in the Navy and told us many stories about it. He was honorably discharged January 30, 1956. He was very proud of this photo he said was taken in Sasebo, Japan, at age 20. Then his life's path led him to our Mother, Donna Rae Yates, whom he married October 17, 1956. We lost Mom on March 16, 2013. They began their marriage on a small farm outside of Baker, MT. When that was going nowhere, they moved us into the town of Baker. Dad went to work as a cement truck driver making little more than $1.00 an hour. With the family growing this just wasn't working ,so they packed us up and we moved to Missoula where Mom's parents, Thomas and Julia Stroud lived. Dad soon went to work driving cement truck for the company known as King Concrete and would later be known as Monroc. Dad drove cement truck and did mechanics on cement trucks from March 7, 1962 until March 7, 1987, at which time he retired. There were 5 of us little Hellyuns (as we were fondly referred to), to feed and cement work slowed in the winter, so Dad had several other jobs to keep us going. Unloading coal railroad cars and midnight shifts at a truck stop were 2 of them we recall. We were far from well off but never went without anything. We all have very fond memories and lots of laughs about our growing up years. Dad never let the stresses of life get to him, he took it all in stride. He always credited his success in life to "Marrying a Good Woman and joining the Teamsters Union" Dad had a big heart and was a very generous person, always willing to help out a stranger if he could, with cash or a ride to their destination, even if it was far beyond his own travel plan. We see our Dad as a “One Of a Kind Champion” who will be very deeply missed. Dad is survived by 4 of his 5 children, Eleanor Tipp (Ray deceased), Gayle Collins, Barbara Ahearn {Ken) and Mike Collins (Sandy) we lost our brother Tom on November 26. 2012. There are 6 grandchildren, Hawlee Valente, Corey Collins,Tia Kleckner, Tomi Ahearn, Sadie Ahearn and Anthony Collins/Cook. There are also 5 great-grandchildren, Amelia Valente, Hannah Valente, Chase Collins, Kennedy Kleckner and Kai Kleckner. Dad had a fantastic group of friends he met up with on a daily basis at Ruby's Cafe on Brooks Street. Our heartfelt Thank You goes out to all of those wonderful men as well as Brenda the owner, and her staff for taking such good care of Dad and giving him a purpose to greet each day. Dad, Mom and Tom, We Love You and You are In Our Hearts Always and Forever. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

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