In Memory of MAJ Alan Earl Colley, US Army
September 26, 1978 – September 7, 2017
Alan was the oldest of six kids. He was a protector by nature all his life. He excelled in everything all his life. Following an initial enlistment in the Army, he went to Cornell through ROTC. He commissioned in the Reserves. He was commander of units many times in his 20-year career. He was deployed to Iraq, Uganda, and El Salvador. In between deployments, he earned a law degree from Michigan Law. He met and married a fellow Army officer classmate whom he met while he was attending a specialized Army school; she beat him out of distinguished graduate! Up until competing with his future wife, he’d been top of his class in everything. We teased him often about that, and he loved being teased. He served well; however, we can only guess how the PTSD of combat and losing his younger brother 10 years before affected him overall. Outwardly, to us, he was doing everything “successful.” He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
Alan was a 20-year active duty and reserve veteran who suffered from the loss of his buddies in combat, then his brother, Stephen, and he struggled to handle it all without help. He was concerned about the impact getting treatment would have on his career, both civilian and military.
States he called home: Santa Clarita, California and Texas
Resting Place: Houston National Cemetery
Kathy, their mom shares this, “I also advocate for suicide awareness as a bereaved mom. I am a trained peer mentor for TAPS. Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the organization that helped us through all three deaths. I am involved with other organizations and use my training as a nurse and mentor to provide support for others moms who have lost their child; it’s a lonely place in society where few resources exist to provide support for grief.”
From the Fallen Heroes Project:
SPC STEPHEN E. COLLEY
05/16/2007, FORT HOOD, TEXAS, U.S.A.
MAJ ALAN E. COLLEY
09/07/2017, HOUSTON, TX, U.S.A
The Colleys still grapple with the deaths of two of their sons. This is a military family including Edward Colley, the father, a retired Air Force Captain, and a daughter who is a disabled Air Force Veteran.
Since 2007, the family has mourned their son Stephen’s death. He was a U.S Army veteran. In 2017 tragedy struck again with the death of their eldest son, Alan, also an Army veteran.
“They were terrific kids,” their mother, Kathy Colley, said. “They were proudly serving in the military, following their dad’s footsteps.”
Stephen E. Colley, one of six Colley children, took his own life on May 16, 2007. He had been deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army and was later stationed at a base in Texas. He was a 2003 Valencia High School graduate. He served his country honorably which was important to him. But he was troubled on redeployment. He feared the stigma associated with seeking psychological help from the military, and did not want to jeopardize his career as a soldier.
While serving in the U.S. Army, Stephen suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, but didn’t receive help from military resources, according to his father.
“They were both proud to serve,” said Edward Colley, their father. “But when a soldier tries to get help and doesn’t get it, he basically decided to solve his own problem.”
Ten years later, the Colley’s eldest son, MAJ Alan E. Colley, took his own life on September 7, 2017.
Like his brother, Alan served in Iraq with the U.S. Army. He was deployed also to Uganda and El Salvador.
“Alan was a brilliant young man, really a true genius,” said Frank Ferry, former Santa Clarita Mayor and friend of the family.
“To Alan, the people that served under him weren’t just bodies and numbers, but he knew their names, their families, and their kids’ names; he made a point to know people he served with,” said Kathy Colley.
Alan Colley graduated Canyon High School in 1996. He graduated from Cornell University and attended the University of Michigan Law School.
“He had this spark that made him want to be deeply involved with his world and his local community,” said Kathy Colley. “And this manifested into him becoming an exceptional leader in the service.”
“Alan was tortured after Stephen,” Edward Colley said. “He couldn’t reach an understanding about losing his baby brother.”
Alan Colley died in Houston. He is survived by his wife Marcela, two daughters, extended family, friends, and brothers in arms.
Edward Colley advocates for service members who are afraid of losing jobs or clearances in the military if they reach out. The potential for losing career status is a barrier to many individuals in need of and seeking help.
“Whenever I’m able to talk to any soldier, I tell them to try to get the help they need,” Mr. Colley added.
“Any soldier that’s in trouble, please do all that you can, because everybody wants you with us,” Kathy Colley stated.
In Memory of Matthew Colley
June 9, 1992 – June 5, 2021
Matthew Ryan Colley, 28, of Canyon Country, CA passed away on Saturday, June 5th. He was born June 9, 1992, while his family was stationed in Colorado Springs, CO. He was the 6th and youngest child of Ed and Kathy Colley. Matt moved to Canyon Country with his family in 1995. Matt graduated from Canyon High School and attended College of the Canyons earning his Associates degree. He was employed by the KHTS “Hometown Station” web/marketing department where he excelled in web design and web development which were largely self-taught skills. As an adult, he became more adventurous and enjoyed snowmobiling, dirt-biking, and snowboarding; he excelled at all three. He loved and devoted much of his time to his dog, “40”. He had the patience of a saint with his dog and his beloved nieces and nephews.
Matthew is survived by his parents, Edward and Kathryn Colley, his siblings, Melissa, Carolyn, and James, his nephews, Alexander (who was also his best friend) and Tyler, his nieces, Katelyn, Juliana, and Allison.
Matt was predeceased by his older brothers, Alan and Stephen.
