Debbie, beloved sister, aunt, friend and band director passed away peacefully after battling peritoneal mesothelioma for 10-plus years. Her perseverance is evident in her MD Anderson log from her diagnosis in November of 2015 through enduring multiple experimental trials and necessary surgeries so that she could remain active in music education and be present for the people and pets she treasured.
Debbie held a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Music Education from Texas State University, formerly Southwest Texas State University. She retired as Director of Bands from Patti Welder MS in May of 2018 after 33 years of teaching in Victoria and Calhoun County ISDs. During her tenure as Band Director, she held the office of President, Vice President and Middle School Coordinator for schools across the region. In addition to teaching her own students and mentoring young directors, she nurtured area musicians through activities such as coordinating the Middle School Solo and Ensemble contest for 20 years. She did not limit herself to the region; she also served summer band camp students at her alma mater, Texas State. After retiring from full-time service with VISD, Debbie continued to teach woodwinds for Victoria East and Victoria West High Schools, as well as being an adjunct professor of flute at Victoria College.
In addition to teaching, many of us have enjoyed Debbie’s musicianship since she played in many community bands throughout her life including Crossroads Community Band, Crossroads Strings, Corpus Christi Municipal Band, Texarkana Band, and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. She also performed as a flute/piccolo soloist and in ensembles for various occasions throughout the area, including church services, weddings and funerals.
Through all of these interactions, Debbie built friendships by always being quietly supportive, giving of herself, and sharing whatever she could to bring joy to others. Her siblings, nephews, friends, fellow musicians and students all have stories of her gifts.
Debbie is survived by her nephew, the love of her life, Matthew Earl Colley (Blinn College); her brothers, Lester Earl Colley (married to Melissa Gaddy Colley) and Charles Colley (married to Sonia Shuvalov Colley), and her nephews, Avery Jacob and Charles Turner Colley. She also leaves behind an extensive “Band Family” and her North Park Neighbors. Debbie was preceded in death by her mom, Audrey Joyce Mott Colley; her dad, Earl Buford Colley, and her sister, Margaret Ann Colley, who also passed away on the 22nd day of the month in 2023.
A memorial service will be held at ten o'clock in the morning on Monday the the 1st of June 2026 at Trinity Episcopal Church with Father Michael Koehler and Father Stephen Carson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Debbie Colley for the "Debbie Colley Scholarship" which the family plans to offer through the VISD Education Foundation.
The family would also like to thank Hospice of South Texas for their loving caring of Debbie during the last few weeks of her life, especially her nurse, Natalie and her volunteer, Mary Margaret.
