Jim Collins

Jimmy Alfred Collins, 83, was called to Beulah Land on June 3, 2023, in Hobbs, NM.

Born in Lingo, NM on June 16, 1939, to Joseph Henry Collins & Etta Isabell Curtis Collins. Jim was raised in Morton, TX and graduated from Morton High School in 1958. He served 4 years in the US Army as a Spec. 4 and diesel mechanic. He would tell the story of the guitar he bought while stationed at Fort Bragg North Carolina. When he got out of the service, he spent his only money to ship the guitar home, then he hitch hiked back home to Morton, TX creating many memories along the way.

May 1, 1965, Jim married Dortha Fay Rowland at First Baptist Church in Tatum, NM.  They lived at Highway, NM while Jim worked at Bluit Gas Plant near Milnesand. Later moving to Tatum, Jim would drive from Tatum to Hobbs to work at the Warren Gas Plant. He then worked for American Cryogenics, General Welding and Bill’s Welding Supply selling welding supplies. They moved to Hobbs in 1966 where they raised 3 children and built quite a legacy together.

Jim worked for Skillet Drill Bits before starting his own drill bit company, Jaco Bit, Inc in 1974 that is still in operation today. Jim thought his most important job was providing for his family. He had a strong work ethic that he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Jim knew Jesus as his Savior and raised his kids to know Jesus as well. Jim loved the Lord and enjoyed praising Him with music, having played guitar and sang in a traveling gospel quartet at one time. He served at many churches over the years as music director and was currently an active worship team member at Fellowship of Believers. Jim enjoyed traveling to learn about and share God’s Word. He and Dortha had an incredible experience traveling to Israel to walk where Jesus walked. They also went to Brazil on a mission trip where Jim lead worship music at church services.

Jim taught himself to play guitar and had a fond appreciation for bluegrass music. He liked playing many different instruments with his brothers, nephews and grandsons and would travel to play at bluegrass festivals. Most recently he played in a bluegrass band that would regularly entertain at local nursing facilities.

Jim loved cars and had a large collection of them. There are many newspaper, magazine and TV stories that cover his passion for cars. He had been known to find an old car in a field while traveling, stop to talk the owner into selling it to him, then not remember where it was so he could go back to get it. He enjoyed antique car auctions and could always be found participating at local car shows and parades. Jim was a board member of the Roadrunner Antique Car Club and a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America for 30+ years.

Jim spent his 80th birthday in Ireland where he was able to trace his family history, finding the plot of land his grandparents lived on before leaving Ireland during The Great Famine.

Jim was well known in Lea County and was selected as a Lea County Pioneer in 2009.

Always having a smile on his face and a joke to tell, he enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee at McDonald’s every morning. Those morning gatherings won’t be the same without him.

Jim was the last of 10 children to leave this earth. Proceeding him in death were his parents and 9 siblings, William, Gene, Frank, George, Ruben, Ruth, Mary, Ann and M.C.

He is survived by his wife Dortha of the home, son Philip Collins and wife Tammi of Hobbs, daughter Stephanie Dal of Des Moines, Iowa, son Jay Collins and wife Amie of Hobbs and a bonus son John Baeza and wife Beverly of Hobbs. 6 grandchildren, Todd Collins and wife Amanda, Nathan Collins, Shawn Collins, Jadyn Collins, Jace Collins and Amberly Dal along with many nieces and nephews that thought the world of their “Uncle Todd”.