William Jefferson Cole

Jeff Cole passed away Sunday, May 26, 2024 after a courageous battle. Visitation will be at Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Services celebrating Jeff's life will be at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, 1915 Grover Place on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Grand Cane Cemetery, Grand Cane, Louisiana. Officiating will be Reverend Jim Freeman and Reverend Dianne Brown.
Jeff was born May 29, 1939 to Robert Leslie Cole and Mattie Belle Griffith Cole. He was a deeply spiritual man who served on the session and taught Sunday School for many years at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church.
Jeff attended Grand Cane School where he was an honor student, played basketball, and worked many jobs helping to provide for his family from a young age. In grade school, he delivered papers on horseback and, after graduation from high school, worked as a roughneck on oil rigs in South Louisiana. As a student at Louisiana Tech, he was a member of the ROTC, quickly being promoted to Wing Commander. Soon after graduation, he was called into active service in the Air Force, serving four years including time stationed in France and Germany before moving back to Northwest Louisiana. In 1965, he joined a local accounting firm, now known as Cole, Evans and Peterson, and was quickly made partner and, shortly thereafter, managing partner – a position he continued to serve in until his death. He was the driving force behind the firm's growth and the development of its people for many years. In 1967, he began serving Willis-Knighton Medical Center and quickly became a trusted advisor of the hospital where he was instrumental in its service to the Northwest Louisiana community. He established and operated Cole Farm which has now been producing high-quality cattle in the Grand Cane area for 40 years. He was an accomplished athlete, running twenty-five marathons, including qualifying and running in the Boston Marathon, as well as breaking horses throughout his life. Jeff was an extraordinary person, loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He lived a remarkable life full of generosity, teaching, and service to others. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." James 1:17. Jeff lived that verse every day of his life by generously sharing his vast spiritual, intellectual, and financial gifts with countless people. His passing leaves a void in the lives of all who knew him.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 51 years, Marilyn Charleen Miller Cole; sisters, Sue Lynn Franklin and Caroline Boyd; and brothers-in-law, William J. Franklin, Roy W. Burr, Sr. and Albert Grey. He was blessed with his second wife of 7 years, Lisa Harbour Cole, who survives him. He is also survived by his daughter Anne-Marie May and husband Matt; sisters Bobbye Wilson and husband, Ray, and Jan Burr; grandsons, Adam Jefferson Cain and wife, Emmie Cain, Jacob John Cain and wife, Laney Cain; stepdaughters Ainsley Wilson, April Wilson Wall and husband Jonathan, Alaina Wilson Anderson and husband, Garrett; sister-in-law JoAnn Miller Grey, nieces, Frances Beck and husband, Bill, Stephanie Webster and husband, Alan Sosebee, Stacy Mills and husband, David, DeAnne Lachney and husband, Mike, Allison Boyd, Pam Roberts, Janet Richards and husband, Tim; nephews, Roy Burr, Jr. and wife, Cindy, Charles Webster and wife, Nena, Les Webster and wife, Nancy, John Franklin and wife, Jann, Cole Franklin and wife, Lottie. Jeff is also survived by his son-in law's parents, Robert and Mary May and their daughter, Alison; "deemed grandchildren" Taylor and Cole Richards, Emma and Meredith Roberts, and Connor and Mary Mickelson and numerous extended family and friends.
Honoring Jeff as pallbearers will be Roy Burr, Jr., Lincoln Coleman, McCord Coleman, Christian Cook, Robert May, and Alan Sosebee. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Billy Bickham, Donald Bryant, Linc Coleman, Jerry Fielder, and David Ogwyn.
The family is thankful for the excellent care provided over many years by Dr. Billy Bickham, Dr. Tim Nicholls and the outstanding staff at Willis-Knighton Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the charity of the donor's choice or to Broadmoor Presbyterian Church.