Billy Edwin Coley

Billy Edwin Coley peacefully left this life on January 4, 2017, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 90. He was born on the 16th day of September, 1926 in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The family later moved to Huntsville where he lived for the next 80 years. Bill joined the Army at the beginning of the Korean Conflict. After completing his military service he returned to Huntsville where he married Rose Marie Sowell. They were married 70 years and had one daughter. Ever the personable and hard-working gentleman, Bill worked for a number of local businesses over the years including Hudspeth’s, Rogers Shoe Store and Walker-Byrd Building Supply. Bill was always sweet and helpful, willing to pitch in where needed, and he perpetually exuded a delightful and slightly mischievous sense of humor, telling jokes and breaking into a happy grin when the punchline was delivered, all in great fun. He was also known as a “handy man” by his family and friends. Bill and his wife Rose (who preceded him in death in 2015), were faithful members of First Baptist Church for decades. The role of managing the Sound Board System for the church fell most naturally to Bill and was especially suited to his skills and creativity, as well as building much-needed shelving for the church library. He also traveled with Rose, his wife, on her many “Gold Citizen” trips; his favorite being Alaska. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Coley, brothers Kenneth Coley and Harold Coley, sister Marie Atkinson Middleton, and by his wife Rose. He is survived by his only child, daughter Debra Lynne, along with her husband Jim Ebeling, granddaughter Kathryn Shanklin Holcomb (to whom Bill was affectionately known as “Pops”), along with her husband, Jeff Holcomb and their baby girl, Jacklynn, Bill’s great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 7th, 2017, at one o’clock in the afternoon at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas. A graveside service will be immediately following. Visitation will be Friday, January 6th, 2017, from five thirty to seven thirty at the funeral home.

Billy Edwin Coley

September 16, 1926 - January 4, 2017