Roddye Sue Corley

Roddye Sue Keen Corley, longtime resident of Abilene, Texas, passed away on September 19, 2014. She had been at Wesley Court in Abilene for several months and was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Sierra Blanca, Texas on September 8, 1924, daughter of a pioneer Hudspeth County ranching family, Rodway and Lily Keen, she spent a good deal of her time on the family ranch assisting her father with the ranch chores. According to the ones that knew her in her early years, she was quite skilled at most ranch work, including riding her horse Sandy. Roddye Sue, as she was known to her friends while growing up, attended public school in Sierra Blanca until her Junior year. At this time, she joined her sister Gladys Keen in Pecos, Texas to attend Pecos High School for the last two years of high school. She graduated Pecos High School in May 1942. In September 1942, she enrolled in Texas Tech College, as it was known then, majoring in Business Administration. She was a skilled athlete in Tennis and Basket Ball. On the tennis courts at Texas Tech in August 1944, she met Durwood (Durk) Corley, and she and her roommate, Ann Segulia, played Durwood and his roommate, Ben Logan. This began a relationship right away and resulted in her marrying Durwood on April 9, 1945, after Durwood had joined the U.S. Navy during WW II. She joined Durwood in his Navy career and lived in Chicago, Dearborn, MI, and San Francisco, CA. When her husband was discharged from the U.S. Navy in May 1946, they returned to Lubbock, Texas so that Durwood could continue his education. Their first child, Carolyn, was born in September 1946. After her husband graduated Texas Tech in June 1947, the family began a career in the oil service business that lasted 18 years. They lived in many cities during this time. In January 1966, her husband and his brother-in-law Sid Wetsel purchased the White Truck dealership in Abilene, Texas, and the family moved from Houston to Abilene. When Durwood decided to start a truck leasing company in January 1967, she joined him as co-founder of C & W Leasing, a position she held for 27-1/2 years. She was a vital part of the business and had a lot to do with the success of this business. She was a longtime member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and served many years on the Homebound Visitation Committee. She was a loving, caring and sharing person, and shared Will Roger’s philosophy in that she never met a person she didn’t like and vice-versa. She will be sorely missed. Roddye Sue is survived by her husband of 69 years, Durwood; two sons, Victor of Abilene and wife Carol, and Val of Lubbock; two daughters, Carolyn Wyly of Houston and husband Ben, and Celia Corley-Davis of Santa Fe, Texas; seven grandchildren, Clay of Waco and wife Brittney, Cade Corley of Waco, Calli Corley of Euless, Coley Tatyrek of Richmond and husband Justin, Connor Davis of Dickinson, Kristen Corley of Midland, and Christopher Corley of Midland; great-grandson, Cason Corley of Waco; and several nieces and nephews. Roddye Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Gladys Holden, and numerous cousins, most of whom were West Texas ranchers. Funeral services will be held at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 22, officiated by Rev. Bill Libby. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 22, prior to the service at The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Sierra Blanca Cemetery on Tuesday, September 23, at 2:00 p.m. with her grandsons serving as pallbearers. A special note of gratitude is extended to her caregivers, Glenda Floyd, Rosalina Cebrero, Jeneta Blas, Luz Roberts, Rell Curtis, and to the staff at Wesley Court. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be sent to St. Paul UMC, 525 Beech St., Abilene, TX 79601, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 301 S. Pioneer Dr., Abilene, TX 79605.