John Dee Cole
1946 – 2024
John was born in Neosho, Missouri to John and Ruth Cole. He was the second of four children and spent his growing up years on the family farm in Granby, Missouri. During high school he met and fell in love with his sweetheart, Laurel whom he married in 1966. In 1969 John was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his term in Germany. After the birth of their first son, John Patrick, Laurel was able to join him in Germany and they had great adventures traveling through Europe. Upon returning to the U.S., they lived in a handful of states throughout their marriage and made many friends. While in the Washington D.C. area they started a congregation of the Church of Christ in the basement of their home. John was a strong and adamant defender of the faith. One of his favorite sayings was, "We are going to put it in the good Lord's hands." He firmly believed this and lived it out throughout his life. He served as an elder in the church in both Topeka, Kansas and the Deer Creek Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma. He loved to tend his garden and kept Laurel busy with cutting up strawberries, okra and peppers during the summer. He also enjoyed collecting model tractors and cars which lined the walls of his office. John was a generous person who believed in people and never hesitated to help those in need.
John is survived by his daughter Suzanne Gillson and her husband J.T. of Dickson, Tennessee, his son Matthew Cole and his wife Mindy of Guthrie, Oklahoma; and daughter in law Aubrey Cole of Crescent, OK; 9 beautiful grandchildren, Mikala, Katelyn, Kristina, Hannah, Hannah, Jenna, Cayden, Gavin, and Sophie; and 2 great-grandchildren, Adalyn and Jackson. He is also survived by his brother Bill Cole of Arlington, Texas and his sister Helen Stewart of Rogers, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth Cole, brother, Edward Cole, his wife, Laurel, and his son, John Patrick.
While we are sad to not have him with us, we know that he has received his reward. He has left a legacy of faithfulness to God and would desire for all to come to know God. In his honor we would like for all donations to be sent to:
World Bible School P.O. Box 2169 Cedar Park, TX 78630 Indicate: "In memory of John Cole"
2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 th at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, OK. Interment will be held earlier that morning at 9:00 a.m. at Crescent Cemetery, Crescent, Oklahoma.
A visitation and viewing will be held Friday, June 28 th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home with family present to greet friends.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.