Joe’s Obituary Lifelong Pauls Valley resident Joe Warren Colley passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family May 27, 2019 at 67. It is fitting he passed on Memorial Day as he had a profound respect for those who served their country. A Celebration of Life will be held 2 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2019 at The First Presbyterian Church of Pauls Valley.
Joe was born February 22, 1952 in Pauls Valley to Erwin Rudolph Colley and Callie Sue Pearson Colley. He grew up running the streets of Evergreen Drive with his buddies and fostering his faith at Valley Christian Church. He was a man of many talents and hobbies.
He loved golf, hunting, fishing, flying, and horse racing. Through his hobbies, he developed lifelong friendships. Joe followed in his father’s footsteps, taking over the family wholesale steel business, Colley and Company.
He was proud to carry on the tradition and thankfully hand the reigns over to the third generation. He was recently named Pauls Valley’s Corporate Citizen of the Year. He was grateful for his relationships with employees, vendors, and customers throughout his career.
Joe married Ruth Anne Reid Colley in Pauls Valley on December 20, 1975, and together they created a loving family. He was proud of his children and found great joy in his grandchildren. He lived his life with integrity and as a devoted steward.
During his life he actively participated on many boards including: Goodland Academy, Pauls Valley Hospital, Pauls Valley Airport, State Bank of Wynnewood, and Selective Service as well as The First Presbyterian Church of Pauls Valley where he served as deacon, elder and trustee. He was also involved with The Samaritans, Oklahoma Lumberman’s Association, Founding Donor for Pauls Valley Foundation for Academic Excellence, and Rotary. The family would like to thank the community for their many thoughts, prayers, cards and meals during this long journey, specifically the Colley and Company family, Alpha Hospice, and Pjoe’s Coffee Club.
Joe often said there was no better place to be sick than Pauls Valley. Joe is survived by his wife, Ruth Anne Reid Colley of Pauls Valley, children, Erin Colley Babcock (Stephen), Anna Pearson Newton (Matthew), Reid Warren Colley (sweetheart Caroline Whiteman), and his most thoughtful ‘daughter’, Holly Finucan (Michael); father in law, Kenneth Owen Reid (Billie Joe). He is also survived by his grandchildren Callie Ruth Babcock, Warren Bennett Babcock, Alice Brantley Babcock, and Helen Jane Newton, a brother Robert Erwin Colley (Patricia), sister-in-law Terry Reid Magill (Bruce), brothers-in-law David Reid (Myra) and Phillip Reid (Jeanne Ann) and a host of nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Phyllis Ruth Colpitt Reid and nephew Kyle Eric Reid. Memorials may be made to The Samaritans, P. O. Box 638 Ash Street, Pauls Valley, OK, 73075; Goodland Academy, 1216 Old Spring Road, Hugo, OK, 74743; or, families who continue the fight against cancer. Services for cremation are under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the family’s guestbook at the Guest Book link on this page. .
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