Colleen Robison Manley Ross

We are so sorry to hear that Colleen has passed. We had dinner with her and Ross on Sunday at a social gathering. We always enjoyed our time with them. Our sympathies and prayers go out to all of her family. May she be at peace.

I’m so sad that Colleen has passed. She was my “other mother” when Lauren and I were teenagers. I love her dearly. I appreciated her candor, and how she treated me like family. My prayers are with her whole family and my heart is with you in this difficult time.

What a fascinating person she was. Always trying to figure things out, always researching, always smiling and friendly, ALWAYS willing to help any who needed it. I’m so grateful to know not only Colleen but her family also. I will miss you friend.

I’ve known Colleen all my life. I will always remember Colleen as a beautiful 12-year-old girl, with freckles and red hair. We were closer than most cousins and played together as often as possible. Colleen had mischievous smile and flashing eyes. She was always true to her friends and always ready to help others. Our families, at Christmas time, would go out as a group Christmas caroling. Whenever we were together, we always had good times. Colleen will be missed by all.

Loved reading about what an amazing life Aunt Colleen had. From day 1 of meeting her I called her Aunt Colleen like she was my aunt, she never corrected me but just accepted me. I adore this family and prayer for you during this time. R.I.P Aunt Colleen ❤️

It is hard to put into words what kind of person Colleen was and what she meant to me. She was so much including a great friend and a caring person. When I moved into her neighborhood from Alaska seven years ago, we became neighbors and then great friends. At first, I would bring down my dog to play with her rescue dog, Scarlett. Soon I was visiting Colleen and her husband at least once a week. She was the only one I could talk to in person (except my husband) during the Covid lockdown. We would sit on her back porch talking about everything. Nothing was off limits. Colleen was so smart and interested in everything. We would talk about politics, religion, medicine, nature, gardens, travels, and anything else that came to mind. She was always so generous with her time and her knowledge and I learned so much from her. Life was tough for her these last few years but she managed to stay strong and get through the days. She loved her daughter and son and their families. I was a witness to her huge love and care for her husband despite his dementia. The day before she passed away, I am forever grateful that I spent over a couple of hours on their sunny back deck with her, Ross, and my dog just talking as always. I remember how we both laughed when I told her my aunt called my previous dog a “panty-waist.” She grabbed her iphone to find out what that meant. Then I drove her and Ross to have lunch at a favorite restaurant and talked some more. I enjoyed watching her and Ross eating a big ice cream sundae for dessert before returning them home that afternoon. She said she had a good time. I gave her a hug not knowing that would be the last time I would see her. She was one in a million and will be missed by me and all who knew her.

Colleen meant so much to all our family, we all played together as tiny children, and we kept in touch all of our lives.
I was at The University of Houston at the same time as Colleen and we would meet up and walk to class together, she was like a brilliant ray of sunshine, really focused on her classwork. Later my Mom and I walked with Ross,Colleen, and Jean on the little trail at the back of their home in Brenham.
We will all take walks again together in Heaven.

Our family was really saddened to learn of Colleen’s passing and send our sincerest condolences to the Ross family. Colleen was truly a force to be reckoned with and we think she will continue to be that in heaven.

What a wonderful cousin you were to me. Our Mother’s looked like sisters instead of cousins so amazing! You were so smart and had it going on. Always knew what you wanted. I was more scatter brain but you still showed the love! I will never forget that and thank you heaven for it. I’ve got to add this. I ate my first corn dog at you house back in the early 60’s Love you! Ripp Colleen

This is very late, but her classmates of 1968 at Sam Rayburn High School just found out about Colleen’s passing. She had that same determination in her character even back then, and we were very saddened to hear of her passing. However, she appears to have lived life to the fullest in expressing who and what she was, a successful life by any measure.

Godspeed, Colleen…

Classmates of 1968