Richard John Colbry

      Richard John "Dick" Colbry, age 89, of St. Louis, MI, passed away Monday, March 4, 2024, at his home. 

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis, MI, St. Louis, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 9, 2024, with Dr. Keith Wise and Brian Ross officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Louis, MI. 

     Richard was born in Alma, Michigan on January 14, 1935, the son of Lawrence and Louie (Griffith) Colbry. Dick graduated from St. Louis High School with the class of 1952. He went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Alma College. He married Maxine Clark on March 29, 1958, and she passed away August 13, 1993.   He then married Joyce Netzley on December 17, 1994; they were blessed with 29 years of marriage.

      Dick worked as safety engineer at Dow Chemical and Total Petroleum. He was an avid gardener and Detroit Lions, Tigers and MSU fan. He also enjoyed bluegrass music and attended many festivals. He was on the St. Louis School board for 20 years. Dick and Joyce liked traveling and visited many places including, Switzerland, Normandy, Israel, and a mission trip to Austria, and they wintered for 20 years in Arizona. 

      Dick was an elder and Sunday school teacher with the Church of Christ. He taught bible study in his home in Michigan and in Arizona. Dick was baptized at Rock Lake at the age of 9 and was baptized again during their trip to Israel in the Jordan River. His favorite bible verse was Romans 8:28. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and most of his time in the service he was stationed in Ft. Huachuca, AZ. 

     He is survived by his wife Joyce Colbry; his children: Blaine and Audie Colbry, Boyd and Tonya Colbry, and Brett and Patti Colbry; step-sons: Keith and Julie Netzley, and Michael Netzley and Kim Gruss.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife Maxine. 

      Memorials may be made to Westlawn Church of Christ, P.O. Box 337, Shepherd, MI 48883 or Heartland Hospice, 1627 East Broomfield St., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 or Gratiot Commission on Aging, 515 S. Pine River, Ithaca, MI 48847. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, Michigan.