John D Collins

John Dudley Collins, 77, of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly on September 5, 2026, leaving behind a family who loved him beyond measure and a lifetime of memories that will keep us laughing, crying, and telling "Duhduh stories" for years to come. John grew up a Gulf Coast boy in Mobile, Alabama, the middle of seven children born to Dutch and Evelyn Collins. He faithfully served his country in the United States Air Force, retiring after a military career that took him and his family around the world. Never one to sit still for long, he went on to work as a facilities manager for Baptist Medical Center and HealthSouth, a fitting career for a man who firmly believed just about anything could be fixed if you had the right tool and enough determination. The great love of John's life was his wife, Debra. They met at a church function when they were young, fell in love almost immediately, and from then on were rarely apart. They married on June 17, 1972, and spent 54 years side by side. Through military moves around the world, five children, sixteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and all the joys and challenges of a life built together, they continued to choose one another every day. Only death could separate them—and because of the faith they shared, their family finds comfort in knowing even this separation is only temporary. John loved his family fiercely. He was our anchor, our protector, our sounding board, and most certainly our fixer. If something was broken, you called Dad. If you needed help, you called Dad. And if Dad couldn't fix it, there was a pretty good chance it wasn't worth fixing. He loved golf, his faith, watching his grandchildren play sports, and simply being with his family. His grandchildren knew him as Duhduh, a name that came to mean safety, laughter, unconditional love, and the certainty that someone was always in their corner. They adored him, and there was very little Duhduh wouldn't do for them. John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Debra Collins; his children, Heather Murphree (Anthony), Sarah Collins, Laura Munroe (Steven Lambeth), Joseph Collins, and Julia Phillips (Ian); his grandchildren, Heather Dagnan (Eric), Logan Murphree (Sierra), Evie Murphree, Dana Irvine (Matthew “Thor” Smith), Elizabeth Barnes (Andrew), Oliver Irvine, Gavin Jackson, Hampton Irvine, Emily Anne Irvine, Gavin Munroe, Jase Munroe (Lauren), Makenzie Guadalupe (Jairo), Hudson Munroe, Owen Phillips, Sarah Phillips, and Adaline Phillips; and his great-grandchildren, Joshua Guadalupe, Rumor and Cyprus Dagnan, Ashton and Alex Murphree with another beloved great-grandchild expected in March. He is also survived by his siblings Joan, Ada, and Audie, along with many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dutch and Evelyn Collins, and his siblings Brenda, Leslie, and Rocky. John was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was also a proud Master Mason and member of Prattville Masonic Lodge No. 89, as well as a proud member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 607. His faith, his patriotism, and his commitment to service and brotherhood were important parts of the man he was. There are some people whose absence changes the shape of a family. John was one of those people. He spent 77 years showing up, taking care of his people, fixing what was broken, loving Debra, loving his children, and spoiling his grandchildren. To be loved by him was a gift. To call him our husband, Daddy, and Duhduh was one of the greatest blessings of our lives. We will miss him for the rest of our time on Earth, until we see him again. Services Visitation will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Prattville Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Prattville, Alabama. The family will receive visitors at the church prior to the service from 9:00–10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama, where John will be laid to rest in honor of his faithful service to his country.

John D Collins

March 27, 1949 - September 5, 2026