Charley Coleman

Charley Joe "Big" Coleman

After spending a weekend with family and friends in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Charley went to his heavenly home on March 26th at the age of 91. Charley was born in Amarillo, Texas on November 3, 1926 to Fred and Essie Gibbons Coleman. His family homesteaded in Sedan, New Mexico until the dustbowl ended the success of that endeavor. The family then relocated to Dumas, Texas which would remain Charley's boyhood home. He choose to leave the small town along with his bride Patsy Smith to make a career in the oil industry which ultimately took him to the Louisiana Gulf Coast and Alaska along with a variety of overseas locations.

Charley enjoyed many successes in life including his career in the oil industry, on the golf course, grill master with his ribs and chicken, coveted yard of the month in Katy, and often winning a hand of Hearts, Skip Bo or Bridge. However, Charley would say the greatest success in his life was spending almost 70 years in marriage to Pat, raising 4 children who gave him 7 grandchildren.

A deep rooted passion in Charley was running the roads which for a time included pulling an RV. Whether traveling across the state or across the country, he was sure to make a new friend, cross paths with an old acquaintance or find a long lost cousin. After over 40 moves in his life, his final address was Abilene which was a good midway point for family and friends and the bonus of Abilene Christian University where he had grandchildren who were students. He and Pat became adopted grandparents to many of their friends.

Charley and Pat were always active in their church wherever they lived. In addition Charley was a VIP volunteer in Abilene. A great fit for him was taking seniors to their doctors' appointments.

Surviving Charley are his wife Pat, 4 children Nancy, Terry (Mim), Polly (Chuck) and Barry, 7 grandchildren Tammy, Misty, Chaz, Zak, Carey, Belle and Leigh and 8 great grandchildren. Predeceased are his parents and brothers Roland, Tack, and Rex.

Services to celebrate Charley's life will be Saturday, March 31st at the Abilene Hillcrest Church of Christ on Ambler in the chapel at 4:00 p.m. Visitation with the family will be at 3:00 p.m.

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