Ralph Coley

Ralph Coley, 71, passed away Sunday morning, January 26, 2025 at the home he built at Ross Valley in Jack County. Ralph was born December 1, 1953 to Ralph and Donna (Brooks) Coley in Graham, TX. Dale and Cindy Calhoun set him up on a blind date with his future wife. He married Susan (Edens) Coley later that year August 18, 1984 at the Palo Pinto Courthouse.

Ralph graduated from Bryson High School in 1973. He participated in all sports and showed the family’s Angus cattle in livestock shows across the country. In 1971, he exhibited the calf champion/reserve grand champion heifer at the National Junior Angus Heifer Show. From high school on, he made many friendships with those who enjoyed raising and showing Angus cattle like he did.

He played football at Tarleton State University and transferred to Texas A&M University to study animal science. Coley forged lifelong friendships while in the College Station area. He worked in the oilfield and did construction for many years before ranching fulltime. Coley, as he was called by his friends, was a great engineer and builder. He could fix just about anything and relished complicated projects or just tinkering. Coley designed and almost single-handedly built the houses they lived in on the land he inherited from his grandparents Emma (Vanhooser) and Hugh Coley. He often recruited the nieces and nephew in his projects. There were always more cinder blocks to move or windmill towers to climb.

He complained about Susan’s hobbies but could be found doctoring or shearing a llama, upgrading the greenhouse or garden, or building the Taj Mahal of all chicken houses. Coley delighted in teasing his wife about finding the first rain crow and summer tanager each year. Few would believe this gruff man spent hours perfecting a misting system for the wild birds during the hot summer months. Ralph enjoyed messing around with telescopes, playing video games, sitting on the porch, watching high school and college sports, fishing at Goose Island and Bass Hollow, riding motorcycles, and traveling.

Survivors include wife Susan, brother and sister-in-law Tommy and Tina Coley of Bryson, in-laws David and Fran Edens of Graham, nephew and nieces and their families Austin Edens of Dripping Springs, TX; Sarah Barie of Portland, TN; Dr. Rachel Coley of Kemp, TX; and Lindsay Coley of Bryson; daughter Jennifer Smith and family; son Jacob Cook and family; many Jack County friends; and cat foundling Birdie.

In honor of Coley’s wishes, no funeral service is planned and his ashes will be spread over his Ross Valley Ranch. Thank you to the sweet ladies who helped care for him over the past two months.