William Alfred Cole

William Cole, a longtime resident of Cortez, Colorado, passed away on July 20, 2004 at his residence. He was 85. A funeral service will take place on Mon., July 26, 2004 at 1:00 PM in the Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 East Mingus Ave. Cottonwood, AZ. A visitation is scheduled from 12:00 noon until time of the service. Interment will follow the services in the Cottonwood Cemetery. A funeral service was held on Friday, July 23 at the Cortez Four Corners Funeral Chapel in Cortez, Colorado. Pastor Neely Lewis officiated. Mr. Cole was born to Wilson A. and Cecil M. Goodman Cole on Nov. 5, 1918 in Canon City, CO. He went to schools in Canon City and grew up near Westcliff, CO, and graduated from Custer County High School in 1936 at Westcliff, CO. After high school he moved to Cottonwood, AZ with his parents. Mr. Cole entered the US Army on Feb. 19, 1941 and served his country during WWII in the European-African Theatre from May 1, 1943 to Feb. 17, 1944. During this time he was wounded in action on Anzio Beach Head and he received the Battle Star Purple Heart, plus other commendations. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 6, 1944 at El Paso, Texas, ranking as a Platoon Leader/Staff Sgt. On Feb. 23, 1945 he married Hazel Dean in Cottonwood, AZ. They were blessed with a son Keith. Mrs. Cole preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 2003 here in Cortez, CO. Mr. Cole was employed with the US Government in Soil conservation as an Engineer Technician in Cottonwood, AZ until 1964, and then in Springerville, AZ he continued his work, retiring in June of 1973. He and his family moved to Cortez, CO at that time were he farmed. Ranching and farming was his greatest enjoyments in his life, especially his cattle. He also enjoyed going to the senior dances locally. William Alfred Cole is survived by his son, Keith A. Cole of Cortez, CO; a grandson Thad Cole of Cortez, CO; sisters: Mary Goswick of Tuscon, AZ, Betty Cole Ortega of Libby, Mont., Shirley Park of Spring, TX; nieces: Janey Cantaloupe of Libby, Mont., Katy Bagnall of Prescott, AZ., Debra Dupree Batten of Eagle, CO., Christy Ortega-Scheiner of Albquerque, NM, Mamie Calvert of Thailand; nephews: John Goswick of Tuscon, AZ and Frank Howard of Pine, AZ. He was preceded in death by his wife Hazel and sister Mamey Matos.