Extracted from The Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches, TX)
Arnold Ray Cole, Sr.
Mr. Arnold Ray Cole, Sr., 69, of Nacogdoches, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, September 14, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at Laird Funeral Home with Bro. Sonny Scarborough officiating. Interment will follow at Cove Springs Cemetery.
Ray was born on April 17, 1940, in Winn Parrish, La., the son of Virgil Hardy Cole and Myrtle Lee (Head) Cole. At age 16 he started working as a groomsman with American Saddle Bred Horses and then worked his way up to horse trainer in Kenner, La., and worked locally for 15 years. He then worked at Lufkin Industries, where he retired. Ray enjoyed his family, fishing and gardening and was a former volunteer for Hospice of Deep East Texas. He married Jammie Brown on June 27, 1959, celebrating 50 wonderful years together.
Ray is survived by his mother, Myrtle Cole of Winnfield, La.; his loving wife, Jammie Cole; one daughter, Robin Kirk and husband, David Kirk Sr.; one son, Arnold Ray Cole Jr.; three grandchildren, David Kirk Jr., Michael Kirk and Danielle Cole, all of Nacogdoches; one great-granddaughter, Halie Kirk; two sisters, Ann Shell and Eloyce Phillips of Winnfield, La.; mother and father-in-law, Emma and AC Horn of Hattiesburg, Miss. Ray was preceded in death by his father, Virgil Cole, and father-in-law, James Harold Brown.
Honorary pallbearers will be the staff and volunteers of Hospice of Deep East Texas, Bass-N-East Tex Bass Club and Bass-N-Gals & Guys Bass Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Cove Springs Cemetery, 7543 FM 2259 Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, at Laird Funeral Home.
Laird Funeral Home
Tuesday, September 15, 2009