Alma Tiu Coley

Alma was born in Cebu City Philippines in July of 1959, to her parents Priscilo and Josefa (Tiu) Ondap. She was one of eight children. Her brothers were Danny, Edgar, Robert, and Joselito. Her sisters were Maria Fe, Carmen, and Genevieve. Alma grew up attending church with her entire family. It is one thing that drew me to her, and it was something I admired about her parents.

As a kid Alma loved going to the beach with her family and friends. She was a great swimmer. She loved to go to the mall but what she really enjoyed was working in her father’s bookstore. She talked about it all the time.

In 1987 a U.S. Navy Hospital Ship called the “Mercy” travelled to the Philippines on a Humanitarian Mission. It was then she met me. We were instantly connected. Alma told me many times over the years that it was instant true love for her. It was the same for me. She flashed her beautiful smile and that was it for me.

Approximately one year later Alma arrived in the USA. I was stationed in the Bay Area at Oakland Naval Hospital. I picked her up at SFO International Airport. The first thing she told me when I greeted her at the airport was “don’t kiss me here, there are too many people”. We laughed about that many times. Alma and I welcomed three babies to our family. Brooke in ‘89, Dillon in ‘92, and Janice in ‘95. She loved being a mom and loved our kids to the moon and back.

When Alma first got here from the Philippines, I put her in the kitchen with my mom and my two grandmas. Alma learned to cook all the great dishes they cooked but she also cooked her delicious Filipino foods. At potlucks Alma’s dishes were always first to go, especially her Filipino lumpia and pancit. We are all going to miss her cooking. She loved to entertain during the holidays, and she especially loved to decorate for the seasons and all the big holidays. At Christmas time our house looked like a Christmas store. She loved it and so did the kids.

When we first got married Alma worked as a CNA. She took care of veterans at Vallejo VA, and she later worked the night shift at Hacienda Convalescent Hospital in Porterville. She enjoyed taking care of the elderly. Before and after my dad went into the hospital and went to heaven Alma helped take care of him. Before Alma went into the hospital she was helping take care of my mother. She had a big heart. She told me and my parents many times that they were both like her parents. She loved them and they loved her.

Later Alma worked at Table Mountain Casino, but her favorite job was working at Clovis Unified School District. She was a night custodian. She loved her co-workers, the school staff, and the kids. So many times, I was approached by people bragging on her. Coaches, teachers, her supervisors all telling me that she was the hardest worker and her assigned areas were always spotless. She would spend her own money sometimes and put the pop up “smell good” things in the locker rooms at Buchanan HS. That was my wife.

After moving to Texas, she worked for the Cypress Fairbanks ISD then the famous must stop “Buc-ee’s”. When we bought our forever home here in Oklahoma Alma worked at Harrah Public Schools before retiring about four years ago. Anyone that knows Alma from Oklahoma knows she was crazy about her two German Shepherds Roscoe and Sissy. She loved cooking for them and taking care of them. They were her babies.

We were lucky enough to have some Coley’s follow us to Oklahoma. My parents, then my brother Jason and my sister-in-law Amie brought their family here. Alma loved them and their two sons Race and Brogan. We also felt blessed to have all three of our kids here in Oklahoma. Alma loved having them all here close by. Janice and our son-in-law Addison made a home here in Oklahoma to complete the sweep. Alma leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews in the Philippines and here in the United States. She leaves behind four grandchildren: Sadiee, Noah, Sophia, and her newest granddaughter Callie Nicole. Janice made sure Alma got to meet Callie a couple days ago. Her and Addison brought Callie to the hospital so that Alma could put her eyes on her before going to heaven. Even if it was for just a few seconds while her eyes were open, I know that made Alma happy.

Alma was the best wife Robert could ever find. For 37 years he got to call her Mrs. Coley. She was the best mother to their kids. They never wanted for anything and always knew their mom would be there for them no matter what it was. We are all going to miss her every day but even more during the holidays. That was when she loved to celebrate, cook, and entertain.

A memorial service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025, at Asa Smith Funeral Service. Cremation has been affected.

Arrangements are under the care of Asa Smith Funeral Service of Harrah. Online condolences may be made at www.asasmith.net