Ellie “Hugh” Colley, a Marine who fought to the end, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2022. He had celebrated his 91st birthday.
A public visitation was held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2022, in the chapel of Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
“Boobie” was born on September 17, 1930, during the Great Depression. He grew up in the Hix community and was baptized at Pretty Hole off present day County Road 335.
After graduating from Caldwell High School, he joined the United States Marines. Corporal Colley worked the crash crew at Opa-locka, Florida’s and San Juan, Puerto Rico Airbases.
Hugh married Patsy Ruth Helmer on August 18, 1951.
Through the years he worked as superintendent for Reynolds & Williams doing road construction in Arkansas, he was a truck driver for Alenco and a supervisor at Texas A&M power plant.
Boobie was passionate about ranching. In his early years he would haul cattle to Fort Worth to be sold -- long before any sale barns had been established in this area.
He loved riding the pastures and tending to his cattle and was very happy on a tractor. Nothing was better than a day baling hay with his family by his side.
If Hugh made a promise, it was kept. He was a neighborly man and always answered the call for ranching assistance. Many times he could be found pulling calves, doctoring animals or maybe just telling a story of such.
The Lord has called this rancher home. He has reunited with his wife, Patsy Ruth and youngest child, Warren Bruce.
Hugh was preceded in death by his parents, William Boyd and Harriet Ellen; one sister, Ople Smith; two brothers, Warren Boyd and Johnnie Dan.
He is survived by his sister, Mildred Wiederhold; son, Alan Colley and his wife, Sharon; daughter, Donna Kay Sanchez and her husband, Danny; six grandchildren, Kerry Elliott, Matthew Colley, Scott Rowan, Michael Colley, James Colley, and William Colley; numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 1535 W. Loop S., Houston, Texas 77027.
Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.