Larry Gene Cole, 70, of Webb City, Missouri, passed away Friday, May 29, 2020, at Communities of Wildwood Ranch after a short illness.
Larry was born November 1, 1949, in Neosho, Missouri, to the union of Gerald and Verna Lou (Randol) Cole. He was a 1967 graduate of Neosho High School. Larry attended Crowder College following high school, graduating in 1969. Following Crowder, he attended MSU and MU. In 1991, Larry received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration from Southwest Baptist University.
Larry had a passion for helping others. He worked in long term healthcare for 40 years as a nursing home administrator and governmental relations advocate in Jefferson City. He also served on numerous community and state level boards and organizations with a unifying goal of serving others. Larry’s pride and joy were his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. No one could be more proud and we are sure his friends heard many proud stories about them.
Larry had a love of music and sang whenever and wherever he could. He led the music at several area churches during his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Joplin. Larry served an awesome God and always marveled at his handiwork in our travels, whether it was in the mountains, the desert or the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake.
On August 28, 1969, he was united in marriage to Katherine Turner in Seneca, Missouri. They celebrated 50 years of marriage this last August.
He is also survived by his son, Jason Cole, and wife, Amy, of Branson, Missouri; three grandchildren, Nate, Heath and Hailey; two siblings, Vicki Hurst and husband, Hal, of McCordsville, Indiana, and Greg Cole and wife, Kim, of Hendersonville, Tennessee; his mother-in-law, Vera Turner, of Webb City; sister-in-law, Mary Adams, of Camden, South Carolina; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; and his father-in-law, Fred Turner.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Diamond Cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Hedge-Lewis-Goodwin Funeral Home, Webb City, Missouri.
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