Mrs.  Dorothy Collins, 92, of Beaumont, Texas passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023 in Beaumont, Texas.

Mass of Christian Burial Celebration Service for Mrs. Collins will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Saint Pius X Catholic Church located at 5075 Bigner Road in Beaumont, Texas. A public viewing for Mrs. Collins, will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 p.m., at Mercy Funeral Home Chapel. Rosary will be recited on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 9:40 a.m. at Saint Pius X Catholic Church. Entombment  service will be held at Magnolia Cemetery Mausoleum under the direction of Mercy Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas. For your safety, Social Distancing and Facial Masks are recommended.

Dorothy's Story

Dorothy Lewis Collins, affectionately known by many as "Dot," was born November 3, 1930 to the late Burton and Vernice Lewis in Beaumont, Texas. She was the third of four children, and was the only girl.  Her brothers, Hubert Lewis, Clifton Lewis, and Lawrence Lewis, preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was her nephew, Carl "Soonie" Lewis.

Baptized in the Catholic faith, she attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church from childhood and raised her children there as well.  In the early 1970s, she moved her membership to St. Pius X Catholic Church where she was a faithful member for over 40 years. Dorothy served in many capacities at church, and especially enjoyed and treasured many friendships with the St. Pius Ladies in her church community.

Dorothy's mother, Vernice Lewis, died at an early age. As a result, she and her siblings were raised by her father, Burton Lewis, along with her mother's family. Dorothy always had a take-charge personality, and ultimately, she became the matriarch of the family. She loved to cook Sunday dinner and enjoyed having a house full of family and friends. She was known as "the life of the party" because she cherished spending time with others. Dorothy was extremely friendly and outgoing throughout her life, and as the saying goes…she never met a stranger.

Dorothy was a 1946 graduate of Charlton Pollard High School, and was a proud Bulldog. She looked forward to the mass school reunions and genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to fellowship with former alumni. She attended Prairie View A & M University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1951. Dorothy worked for Charlie's Café for many years, and worked multiple other jobs to provide for her household and take care of her father. Her first teaching assignment was at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. Eventually she transitioned to Beaumont Independent School District and worked at Bethune, Charlton-Pollard, Dick Dowling, and French Elementary. After a lengthy career, she retired in 1993.

Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory: a devoted daughter, Cherie Lewis (James); a devoted son, Eric Lewis (Lottie); three grandchildren, Eric "Jordy" Lewis, Erica Lewis, and Cherica Lewis; a great-grandchild, Ayce Manor; a sister-in-law, Jewell Lewis; a host of nieces and nephews, including Richard Lewis (April), Vivian Lewis Bernard, Clifton Lewis Jr. (Leeann), Sheila Lewis, Rip Lewis (Debra), and John Lewis (Erica); extended family, including Gwen Julien, Lydia Guidry, Ramona Lee, Jeanette Wycoff, LaVerne "Scoobie" Jones; and her St. Pius X family, along with many others she has encountered and touched along the way.