Marjie Elizabeth Coldwell "Babe" Cole's Obituary
Marjie Elizabeth Coldwell “Babe” Cole passed away February 25, 2017. Babe was born May 25, 1931 in Manitou, Oklahoma to Ralph Raleigh and Harriet Elizabeth Coldwell.
She was the youngest of seven sisters who were constantly doting and loving on her. At a young age, Babe’s family moved to West Monroe, Louisiana. She graduated from Ouachita Parish High School, where she was a proud member of the All State Band, playing the Alto Clarinet. She then went to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, LA, where she met and married the love of her life, Steve Cole. While at NSU, watching Steve play football, she developed her life-long love of sports. They settled in Minden, Louisiana, where they lived until 1967. Moving to Longview, Texas, Babe went to work for Longview ISD selling season tickets. She loved this as it gave her a chance to meet so many people. She went on to work in the Superintendant’s Office and was the first receptionist at the “new” Longview HS. Her joy in life was watching her 5 children and later grandchildren participate in sports, band and varied extracurricular activities. Babe loved her Cowboys, Rangers, Demons and Lobos, constantly rooting them on to victory. She enjoyed sewing, playing tennis and golf with her friends. Babe served on the Board of Directors at Pinecrest Country Club and was the first woman to serve as President of the club. In later years, she volunteered at her beloved First Methodist Church in Longview in many capacities. She was active with the American Heart Assn., and Meals on Wheels also.
She loved her church and specifically her Sunday School class, The Henry Foster Class and her Bible Study group. They were her source of daily contentment and loving attitude of life. Babe’s mantra in life… “Do all the good you can, every chance you get, AND NEVER do less than your best”.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Carolyn Triplett of Claremont, CA, Mary Joyce Mays of San Angelo, TX, and Virginia Willis of West Monroe, LA. She is survived by Mrs. Ruby Nicholson of Montclair, CA, Mrs Adelyn Duke of Carthage, TX and Mrs. Martha “Sissy” Pipes of Boca Raton, FL.
Babe is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Stephen P. Cole of Longview, her five children, Debbie Roberson and husband Loy, of Lubbock, Steve Cole and wife Carol of Charlotte, NC, Libby Teigen and her husband Jim of Abilene, TX, Scott Cole and wife Lindsay of Longview, TX, and Jeff Cole and his wife Sandy of El Paso, TX. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home, Monday February 27, 2017 from 6-8pm. A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Cole at First Methodist Church in Longview, Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Longview.
A special note of thanks to all the good women and men at Good Shepherd Medical Center and Summer Meadows Rehab Facility in Longview for all their outstanding work and devotion on Babe’s behalf. It was truly appreciated by all of her family.
…yes Babe, Homecoming is this week and we’ve got the tickets!!
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