Colby Tate Byrnes' Obituary
On October 3, 2025, after a ten-month courageous battle with melanoma, Jesus stretched out His hand and gently carried our precious Colby into the gates of Heaven.
Colby was born on September 17, 2001, in Longview, Texas. From the very beginning, his bright spirit and kind heart left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.
His early education began at Oak Forest Montessori School, where he attended from 18 months through first grade. He then went on to Hudson PEP Elementary School, where he built lifelong friendships and often said it was his favorite school he ever attended. Afterward, he attended Foster Middle School before graduating from Longview High School in 2020, proudly carrying the spirit of a Lobo for life.
Colby continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin, where he embraced campus life with joy and became a devoted member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 2024, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a milestone that filled his family with pride.
He later began his career at Round Rock Cardiology, where his coworkers quickly became more than colleagues—they became family. His compassion, humor, and warmth made every workplace brighter.
To those who knew him best, Colby was a source of endless love and laughter. He found joy in life’s simplest and sweetest moments—holidays spent with family, beach vacations filled with sunshine, movie nights and board games that always ended with laughter, karaoke that showed off his playful spirit, and Saturdays cheering on the Longhorns at UT football games. He cherished nights out with friends just as deeply as quiet moments at home. If you had the blessing of knowing Colby, you experienced the rare gift of being loved without condition.
Welcoming him into Heaven were his beloved Ma, his Grandmary, his Uncle, and two grandfathers he longed to meet.
Colby leaves behind his devoted parents, Judd and Tammy Byrnes; his brother and best friend, Preston Byrnes; and his extended Byrnes family, all of whom adored him.
He will also be deeply missed by his chosen family: Maurita “Nana” Stark, Gina and Scott Green, Haylen and Tanner Green, Kelsey and Mason Nestleroad, Taylor Green, Kaylee McMullen, and Kathy Love; his “Leonard boys”—Will, Thomas, and Stephen; Dan and Shaunek; and so many more within his cherished Longhorn family.
Colby’s life, though far too short, was filled with love, laughter, and light. He will be remembered for his boundless kindness, his optimism in the face of challenges, his brilliant mind, and his unwavering love for family and friends. His memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 14, from 5–7 p.m. at Rader Funeral Home.
A memorial service will follow on Wednesday, October 15, at Flying Feathers Ranch at 12 p.m.
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