Jerry Lee Koller

JERRY LEE KOLLER passed away from this life on Friday, April 18, 2014 at 13:57 p.m. in St. Vincents Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jerry was born October 22, 1942 in Littlefield, TX to Berniece and Elmer Koller who preceded him in death. He is survived by a sister, Janis Bailey of Abilene, TX. He is also survived by 3 children: Brenda Leyba, of Cedar Crest, Randy Koller, of Santa Fe and Steve Koller and wife Michelle of Espanola, NM; and 7 grandchildren: Michael Leyba and wife Jasmine, Cherilyn Koller and fiancé Josh Archuleta, Andrew Leyba, Valerie Koller and significant other Cody Turnbow, Ryan Koller, Kristin Koller and Kaitlyn Koller. He graduated from Littlefield High School in 1961 and went to college at Eastern New Mexico University on a football scholarship. He met his future wife (Billie Louise Holder) there and they married August 1, 1963. He continued his education at Western New Mexico University and graduated with a teaching degree. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Chaparral Junior High School in Alamogordo, New Mexico. After several years of coaching and teaching at Alamogordo High School he moved to Carrizozo, New Mexico as coach and teacher. Then he went on to coach and teach at St. Michaels High School in Santa Fe; Questa; Hatch; Espanola; McCurdy School in Espanola; and Pojoaque. Following retirement he chose to take life easy from the stress of coaching and teaching. He had a beautiful bass singing voice and often sang solos at church as he participated in the church choir. One of his favorites was to sing O Holy Night during Christmas celebrations. That was often requested by older family members. He loved his children and grandchildren very much and enjoyed visits from them often. Near the end of his life he developed COPD and was on oxygen most of the time. He didnt venture out of his house because of his difficulty in breathing. He and his wife divorced in 1996. He died peacefully and will live in the hearts of all of his surviving family. Services took place on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Rivera Funeral Home, 305 Calle Salazar in Espanola, NM This obituary is protected by copyright laws, unauthorized use or duplication is prohibited.