Richard C. Colley

SPRINGVALE - Richard Counts Colley, Jr., 85, of Springvale passed peacefully at home on March 16, 2010. He was born on February 4, 1925 in Dickson, MT, one of ten children to Richard C. and Annie (Ethell) Colley Sr.As a youth, he spent many years at the Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem due to a life-long hearing impairment. Despite his disability, Dcik served in the United States Army, being honorably discharged in 1944. It was through connections with close friends that he met and married his wife of 59 years, Angela Maria Salierno of Capri, Italy. A long-time employee as a millwright in the lumber industry in Springfield, Oregon, Dick always worked hard to provide for his family, often taking additional seasonal work harvesting fruits and vegetables in the fertile Willamette Valley of Oregon. Dick had a great zest for life, loved fishing and hunting, bowling and spending time with the local deaf community. In his later retirement years, he always enjoyed a rousing game of Scrabble or a good cribbage challenge. In September of 2006, in a period of declining health, Dick & Maria moved from the West Coast to live with their son and his family in Springvale. Dick is predeceased by his parents, Richard and Annie Colley, his brothers, Clifford, Robert and Wally, sisters, Freda, Thora, Elsie, Erma and his daughter Catherine Anna Vandehey and a granddaughter, Marjorie Hannah Colley. He is survived by his wife, Angela "Maria" (Salierno) Colley, his siblings Kenneth and Thona, his son James Ugo Colley of Springvale, and six grandchildren, Jared Robinson of Oregon, Joshua Colley of Tempe, Arizona, Justin Colley of Georgetown, Maine, Jamie Colley of Belmont, Massachusetts, and Sophia and Dante Colley of Springvale, Maine. Dick's family wishes to express great admiration and appreciation to Dr. William Chernin, and to family care-giver Kate Tomlinson for their unending support to and to all members of his family during his recent rapid decline and through his peaceful passing. A funeral service for Dick will take place on Sunday at 1PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation from 12 noon until the time of the funeral service.Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com