Colette Stepp

Colette M. (Hurt) Stepp, 76, died suddenly March 15, 2023, at her home in China Spring, Texas, after battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for many years. She can now rest in peace, something she had searched for to the end. She was born to George and Deana Hurt, February 26, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Her husband for 55 years, Terry V. Stepp, and her oldest son, Rance P. Stepp, were with her at her bedside. She is further survived by her youngest son, Ty C. Stepp, her daughter-in-law, Allison L. Higgs, and grandchildren, Kaden E. Stepp and Wyatt H. Stepp, all of Austin, Texas.

Besides her parents Colette is preceded in death by an older brother Robert (Bob) Lee Hurt. She is survived by a loving sister Georganne Hurt of Midland, and a brother Terry G. Hurt of Odessa, sister-in-law Linda Hurt of Dallas, sister-in-law Terry Lynn Hurt of Odessa, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ron and Marilynn Gish of Ray City, Georgia, and several nieces and nephews.

Colette and Terry were high school sweethearts at Permian High School in Odessa, marrying at an early age when Terry entered the military during the Vietnam War. Later following a career in banking while living in Dallas as well as Sulphur Springs, Colette entered her love of children serving educational-instructional care of special-ed students for over 20 years with the Sulphur Springs and then Waco area ISDs, including years of service with Special Olympics.

Always brightening her life, she cherished her grandchildren dearly. She further enjoyed spending a lifetime discovering nature as she gardened, played with her pets, and ventured throughout her love of the outdoors, whether trekking down the road on bikes or on the footpath up mountains. If it involved family or friends, Coley was in. So apparent was her longtime relationship through a strong friendship with a group of women she treasured from her days at Permian to the day she died. They were always with her.

If you ever had the pleasure to meet Colette, you knew you had met someone truly special. She always shared her beautiful smile, a happiness framing her winning personality that invariably put others at ease. As someone who knew her remarked, “she loved people unconditionally.” We will all now miss her dearly, unconditionally.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens, W. Hwy. 80 E. Odessa, at an interment plot within the Fountain Garden area.

Please honor Colette by donating to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/Donation