William David Colley (1953 - 2023)

Born 22 Aug 1953 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

Died 29 Apr 2023 at age 69 in Bryan, Texas, United States

Biography

OBITUARY: Bill Colley, 69, of Deanville, passed away peacefully in a Bryan hospital on April, 29, 2023. Visitation with family present will be held on Thursday, May 04, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 05, 2023, at 10:00 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Deanville, with Terry Moon officiating. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Deanville.

Bill was born on August 22, 1953, the oldest of 3 children to Johnnie Dan and Odessa (Love) Colley in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Cy-Fair High School in 1971. Shortly after graduation his parents moved to Rockdale, Texas, for a short time, before finally moving the family to the Colley family land in Hix. Bill helped his father and Grandfather Colley build the family’s new home there. While living in Rockdale, Bill began his mechanic career at Gaither Motor Company.

Bill was known for his trademark handlebar mustache, yellow and brown Ford truck, and his “uniform” of faded blue work shirts, jeans, and work boots (boots that he once painted black for his daughter’s wedding). Bill was a man of many talents: mechanic, builder, metal worker, and most recently farmer. He was a natural leader with a drive to make every situation work. His drive most likely came from having to overcome a Polio diagnosis when he was a young boy. Polio may have affected his legs, but it did not affect his drive.

Bill married Deborah Lee Gerdes on November 22, 1975, at St. John’s Lutheran in Deanville. After their marriage Bill and Debbie settled in Deanville and began their life of almost 48 years together. Bill’s mechanic career in Burleson County began at the John Deere dealership in Caldwell. He worked for Caldwell ISD as a bus mechanic for several years until he went to work for Jurica Motor Company. He was a mechanic and haul truck driver for Jurica’s, a position that gave him and Debbie opportunities to travel across the U.S., picking up machinery. After Jurica’s closed Bill worked for Burleson County for a short time before beginning his final job as mechanic for the City of Caldwell, a job he held for 25 years before his retirement. While Bill was working at the city, Mr. Bill Broaddus asked him to assist Dr. Joe Smith with building a sculpture out of parts from the old gin for the new Civic Center. Evenings and weekends you could find Bill doing mechanic work for people, from near and far, at his shop.

Bill had a servant’s heart. He was actively involved in the Deanville Volunteer Fire Department for over 43 years. He served the department as Assistant Fire Chief for 10 years and Fire Chief for the last 17. Bill was also the fire department’s mechanic, keeping the firefighting apparatuses ready for service. He even had a hand in building several of the trucks from the ground up. He helped build and complete the buildings that make up the current DVFD complex. Bill was an integral part of making every fundraiser that the department had over the years a success. He built some of the first fryers used to make the delicious Deanville fried chicken. On fundraiser days he was always hard to find, never staying in one spot long, always anticipating the next task to be done. Bill spent many hours at the fire station, there are very few areas of the department where you do not see his handiwork. The fire department was embedded in his body and soul. Bill’s talents and willingness to help went far beyond the fire department, he could be found helping with most of the organizations in Deanville and the surrounding area. Rarely did he say no when asked to help.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie Dan and Odessa Colley; in-laws, John and Lorine Gerdes; brothers-in-law, Leroy Telg and R.J. Smith; sister-in-law, Terry Vermillion.; son-in-law, William Budnik; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins.

Left to cherish his memory, his wife of 47 years Debbie Gerdes Colley, daughters Mary and husband Doug Dean and Jessica and husband Jason Muzny; granddaughters, Shelia Budnik (Tanner Hurt), Madyson Muzny, and Kymber Dean (Jerry Aleman); grandsons Weston Muzny, and Dalton Dean (Danielle Parmer); sisters, Beverly Telg and Kay Colley; sister-in-law, Barbara Smith; nephews, Daniel Telg, John Smith, Chris Smith and niece, Lisa Smith; 4 great nieces and 1 great nephew, numerous other extended family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Pevehouse, John Michael Anderson, John Smith, Chris Smith, Keith Ahrens, and Nathan Flippin. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Deanville Volunteer Fire Department, Tommy Tietjen, Bradley Suehs, and Daniel Telg.

In Lieu of flowers the family ask that memorial donations be given to the Deanville Volunteer Fire Department-PO Box 71 Deanville, TX 77852.

Express condolences at Phillipsandluckey.com.

Sources

Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, Giddings, Texas, USA [1] accessed 9 May 2023