LA GRANGE, Texas - Bruce D. Collins passed away Dec. 18, 2009, after a short battle with lung cancer. He was born Aug. 27, 1939, in Fort Kent, to Donald and Janelle Collins. He was the youngest of three children. He grew up in Fort Kent and attended public schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Maine in 1961. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in conjunction with a teaching assistantship in France, but was unable to accept it due to his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965 as a first lieutenant in U.S. Air Force Intelligence. He then moved to California and was in the real estate business for 23 years. He and Victoria founded and owned The Forestville Real Estate Co. He served as the Russian River area representative on the Sonoma County Multiple Listing Board for four years. He was the president of Forestville Chamber of Commerce for two years. In 1988 he and the love of his life, Victoria, sold their real estate company and moved to Ambergris Caye, Belize, where they founded the newspaper The San Pedro Sun, which they operated for 10 years. He served on the Island's Ambergris Caye Planning Commission. They always said the move to Belize was a great answer to a mid-life crisis, much better than buying a red sports car. Victoria and Bruce moved to La Grange, Texas, in 1999, where they purchased Bluff Manor Apartments. After selling the apartments, Bruce semi-retired and Victoria now works for the city of La Grange as the Main Street assistant manager. He was a member of Fayette County Historical Commission. He also served on Fayette County Appraisal Review Board in 2009. He was predeceased by his parents, Donald and Janelle Collins. He is survived by his wife of 28 of the best years of his life, Victoria of La Grange, Texas; his four children, Joe Brickey and Barbara of Fort Bragg, Calif., Greg Brickey and Laura, also of Fort Bragg, Calif., Jean Stevens and Steve of Austin, Texas, and Katy Brickey of Marble Falls, Texas; and granddaughter, Amanda and Jason; and great-granddaughter, Sienna. He is also survived by his siblings, Michael and Lolita of Eagle Lake and their children, Scott, Todd and Monica, Kurt, and Shawn and Monica, and Jean and Edward Kelliher of Las Vegas, her two children, Harold and Mary Kate; two great-nieces and two great-nephews. A remembrance will be held in August at sunrise, when the loons are calling and the fog on the lake is rising in Eagle Lake. Those who wish may donate in his memory to the Maine Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 553, Portland, ME 04112 or to a charity of ones choice. This was written by Bruce Collins, who loved his life.