Obituary for Debra S. Coller
Debra Sue Coller
Debra Sue Coller, age 67, of Bellevue, Michigan, went to be with her Lord & Savior on April 27th, 2023. Debra was born on August 15, 1955, in Kalamazoo, Michigan; The daughter of David DeRyder and Nancy Jo Synder (Parker). She graduated from Parchment High School in 1974 where she enjoyed serving as the team manager and statistician for the varsity girl’s basketball team on which her best friend played.
Debra attended Nazareth College and Central Michigan University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Shortly after graduation, Debra took a job at The Kambly School in Battle Creek, MI. Little did she know, that job would become a lifelong career and passion for helping individuals with developmental disabilities. The Kambly School later turned into the Kambly Living Center. Debra continuously served the residents of Kambly in some capacity for 43 years. She considered the Kambly residents her family and always included her accomplishments there as some of her greatest contributions to this world. Debra also worked as a substitute teacher for the Bellevue Community Schools for many years while her children attended school there. Her children’s friends were always ecstatic when Mrs. Coller was their teacher!
Debra married Roger Coller in 1980. They started their family that same year, which went on to include their four children; Michael, Brian, Melissa, and Julie. Her children became the center of her entire world, and from the birth of her first child until her last day on earth, that never changed. They lived in Battle Creek until 1990, when they moved into what would be the family home in Bellevue, Michigan.
Some of Debra’s favorite pastimes included watching the cooking channels and the Investigation ID Channel. She loved the Sister Wives, Young Sheldon, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy television shows. Debra loved playing board and card games. In fact, some people even called her a Yahtzee professional. A particular joy of hers was the decades of volunteerism that she gave to the Special Olympics organization. She especially loved the State meets which were held at Central Michigan, her alma mater. Deb also took immense joy in decorating her home for each coming holiday or season.
Debra also enjoyed talking on the phone, shopping, going out to eat, and visiting with her closest friends. She especially loved her Thursday shopping adventures. These trips usually concluded with her unloading dozens of groceries and gifts for her friends and family because Christmas shopping started the day after Christmas for Deb.
Her absolute greatest joy and happiness in life were her grandchildren; Nicholas and Breslin. From the moment Nicholas was born. It was obvious, Debra was meant to be a grandmother. Both of her grandchildren anxiously awaited Friday night to spend every weekend at “GramTrans” house, where she waited on them hand and foot and granted every wish. Her weekend’s were not complete without at least one grandchild there with her. The grandkids stopped by every morning before school to pick up their special GramTran snack packs which she prepared every evening.
Debra was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Harry Synder, her step-mother Joann DeRyder, and her sister Cindy Richmond.
She is survived by her husband Roger Coller; her sons Michael DeRyder and Brian (Angela) Coller, her daughter Melissa (Nick) Bender, and Julie (Ryan) Dickey; her sister Janice (John) Kehl, her brother Mike (Mary Lou) DeRyder, and her brother Jim DeRyder; her sister-in-law Julie Coller, and her brother-in-law Butch Coller; her nephew David (Ana) DeRyder, her nieces Brenda Turney Janae (Chris) Roberts and Leslie Nilsson; her grandchildren Nicholas Bender and Breslin Bender; her great nephews Thomas DeRyder, Braiden Mansfield and Cameron Thompson; and great nieces Alaina Nilsson and Isabelle Nilsson.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Kambly Living Center for the purpose of funding resident events and activities. The Kambly Living Center is located at 1003 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI.
To leave online condolences, please visit the Williams-Gores Funeral Home’s website at goresfuneralservice.com
Visitation and Funeral Service:
1st visitation- Friday, May 5th, 4-7pm at the Williams-Gores Funeral Home in Delton, MI.
2nd Visitation- Saturday, May 6th, 2-3pm at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.
Funeral Service- Saturday, May 6th, 3-4pm at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.
Interment will immediately proceed the service with a luncheon following at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.
Debra Sue Coller, age 67, of Bellevue, Michigan, went to be with her Lord & Savior on April 27th, 2023. Debra was born on August 15, 1955, in Kalamazoo, Michigan; The daughter of David DeRyder and Nancy Jo Synder (Parker). She graduated from Parchment High School in 1974 where she enjoyed serving as the team manager and statistician for the varsity girl’s basketball team on which her best friend played.
Debra attended Nazareth College and Central Michigan University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Shortly after graduation, Debra took a job at The Kambly School in Battle Creek, MI. Little did she know, that job would become a lifelong career and passion for helping individuals with developmental disabilities. The Kambly School later turned into the Kambly Living Center. Debra continuously served the residents of Kambly in some capacity for 43 years. She considered the Kambly residents her family and always included her accomplishments there as some of her greatest contributions to this world. Debra also worked as a substitute teacher for the Bellevue Community Schools for many years while her children attended school there. Her children’s friends were always ecstatic when Mrs. Coller was their teacher!
Debra married Roger Coller in 1980. They started their family that same year, which went on to include their four children; Michael, Brian, Melissa, and Julie. Her children became the center of her entire world, and from the birth of her first child until her last day on earth, that never changed. They lived in Battle Creek until 1990, when they moved into what would be the family home in Bellevue, Michigan.
Some of Debra’s favorite pastimes included watching the cooking channels and the Investigation ID Channel. She loved the Sister Wives, Young Sheldon, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy television shows. Debra loved playing board and card games. In fact, some people even called her a Yahtzee professional. A particular joy of hers was the decades of volunteerism that she gave to the Special Olympics organization. She especially loved the State meets which were held at Central Michigan, her alma mater. Deb also took immense joy in decorating her home for each coming holiday or season.
Debra also enjoyed talking on the phone, shopping, going out to eat, and visiting with her closest friends. She especially loved her Thursday shopping adventures. These trips usually concluded with her unloading dozens of groceries and gifts for her friends and family because Christmas shopping started the day after Christmas for Deb.
Her absolute greatest joy and happiness in life were her grandchildren; Nicholas and Breslin. From the moment Nicholas was born. It was obvious, Debra was meant to be a grandmother. Both of her grandchildren anxiously awaited Friday night to spend every weekend at “GramTrans” house, where she waited on them hand and foot and granted every wish. Her weekend’s were not complete without at least one grandchild there with her. The grandkids stopped by every morning before school to pick up their special GramTran snack packs which she prepared every evening.
Debra was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Harry Synder, her step-mother Joann DeRyder, and her sister Cindy Richmond.
She is survived by her husband Roger Coller; her sons Michael DeRyder and Brian (Angela) Coller, her daughter Melissa (Nick) Bender, and Julie (Ryan) Dickey; her sister Janice (John) Kehl, her brother Mike (Mary Lou) DeRyder, and her brother Jim DeRyder; her sister-in-law Julie Coller, and her brother-in-law Butch Coller; her nephew David (Ana) DeRyder, her nieces Brenda Turney Janae (Chris) Roberts and Leslie Nilsson; her grandchildren Nicholas Bender and Breslin Bender; her great nephews Thomas DeRyder, Braiden Mansfield and Cameron Thompson; and great nieces Alaina Nilsson and Isabelle Nilsson.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Kambly Living Center for the purpose of funding resident events and activities. The Kambly Living Center is located at 1003 North Ave, Battle Creek, MI.
To leave online condolences, please visit the Williams-Gores Funeral Home’s website at goresfuneralservice.com
Visitation and Funeral Service:
1st visitation- Friday, May 5th, 4-7pm at the Williams-Gores Funeral Home in Delton, MI.
2nd Visitation- Saturday, May 6th, 2-3pm at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.
Funeral Service- Saturday, May 6th, 3-4pm at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.
Interment will immediately proceed the service with a luncheon following at the Hickory Corners Bible Church.