Obituary for Mary L Cole
Mary Leora “Lee” Cole, of Milton, FL, passed away on December 12, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was born December 21, 1933 in Lisle, New York.
Lee grew up in upstate New York in the Lisle/Whitney Point area. She attended Cortland Business Institute from 1950 to 1951 for secretarial training, then worked various secretarial jobs from 1951 to 1963, notably for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO) in Washington, D.C. around 1955. During this time she married her husband, Jim, in 1955. That began the journey of a Navy wife traveling the world from flight training in Milton (Florida); San Diego, San Pedro, Alameda, (California); Guam (Mariana Islands); and New Orleans (Louisiana). She raised her 4 children while participating in many activities including tennis lessons, sewing, embroidering, knitting, bowling, square dancing, coin and stamp collecting and reading. During their last tour of duty in New Orleans she trained and became a Realtor for Wagner and Truax Real Estate Company from 1970 to 1978. She became a branch manager in 1978 and continued until 1982 when she decided the only way up was to open her own company. Lee Cole and Associates, Inc., was established in 1982 with her husband as the associate and was joined by a few more agents including her son, Greg. In 2002 she decided to retire and hang up her top seller credentials and move back to Milton, Florida where their journey began. They built their home on the property they owned since flight school and got a second chance to rebuild after hurricane Ivan in 2004. She enjoyed her retired years participating in the garden club, the Pensacola Newcomers club, playing Bunko, and of course a visit to the casino was a favorite pastime in her later years. After she won the first car in 2017 she was hooked; winning the second car in 2020 was icing on the cake. She won numerous jackpots and even an Alaskan cruise. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Lee was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Leonard Ivan Cole, Jr., “Jim”, LCDR, U.S.Navy (Ret), her daughter Dr. Sheri Ellen Cole, DVM, her parents Herbert E. Underwood and Mary Dessie (Frazier) Underwood, sister Lillian Underwood, brothers George Underwood, Charles Underwood, Fred Underwood, and Harry Underwood.
Lee is survived by her children: Connie Cole; Dr. Randall Cole, DDS, (Karen); and Gregory Cole, LCDR, U.S. Navy (Ret), (Carol); 8 grandchildren: Sherice Farmer (Mark); Sheri Lee Boudreaux; Ryan Cole; Ashleigh Paschal (Donald); Kimberly Valdez (Matthew); Jenna Cole; Mikaela Cole; and Kristina Cole; 7 great grandchildren: Christopher; Brent; Tucker; Savannah; Laylah; Callie; and Hope. She is also survived by her 3 sisters: Barbara Hamilton; Betty Judd; and Dorothy Altavilla; and 2 brothers: Douglas Underwood and Gary Underwood.
Mom touched many lives in her 88 years and lived a full and vibrant life. She will be truly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Although she can no longer be with us, we are happy knowing that the angels have taken her to be reunited with Jim, Sheri, and Ladybug.
Lee grew up in upstate New York in the Lisle/Whitney Point area. She attended Cortland Business Institute from 1950 to 1951 for secretarial training, then worked various secretarial jobs from 1951 to 1963, notably for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO) in Washington, D.C. around 1955. During this time she married her husband, Jim, in 1955. That began the journey of a Navy wife traveling the world from flight training in Milton (Florida); San Diego, San Pedro, Alameda, (California); Guam (Mariana Islands); and New Orleans (Louisiana). She raised her 4 children while participating in many activities including tennis lessons, sewing, embroidering, knitting, bowling, square dancing, coin and stamp collecting and reading. During their last tour of duty in New Orleans she trained and became a Realtor for Wagner and Truax Real Estate Company from 1970 to 1978. She became a branch manager in 1978 and continued until 1982 when she decided the only way up was to open her own company. Lee Cole and Associates, Inc., was established in 1982 with her husband as the associate and was joined by a few more agents including her son, Greg. In 2002 she decided to retire and hang up her top seller credentials and move back to Milton, Florida where their journey began. They built their home on the property they owned since flight school and got a second chance to rebuild after hurricane Ivan in 2004. She enjoyed her retired years participating in the garden club, the Pensacola Newcomers club, playing Bunko, and of course a visit to the casino was a favorite pastime in her later years. After she won the first car in 2017 she was hooked; winning the second car in 2020 was icing on the cake. She won numerous jackpots and even an Alaskan cruise. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Lee was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Leonard Ivan Cole, Jr., “Jim”, LCDR, U.S.Navy (Ret), her daughter Dr. Sheri Ellen Cole, DVM, her parents Herbert E. Underwood and Mary Dessie (Frazier) Underwood, sister Lillian Underwood, brothers George Underwood, Charles Underwood, Fred Underwood, and Harry Underwood.
Lee is survived by her children: Connie Cole; Dr. Randall Cole, DDS, (Karen); and Gregory Cole, LCDR, U.S. Navy (Ret), (Carol); 8 grandchildren: Sherice Farmer (Mark); Sheri Lee Boudreaux; Ryan Cole; Ashleigh Paschal (Donald); Kimberly Valdez (Matthew); Jenna Cole; Mikaela Cole; and Kristina Cole; 7 great grandchildren: Christopher; Brent; Tucker; Savannah; Laylah; Callie; and Hope. She is also survived by her 3 sisters: Barbara Hamilton; Betty Judd; and Dorothy Altavilla; and 2 brothers: Douglas Underwood and Gary Underwood.
Mom touched many lives in her 88 years and lived a full and vibrant life. She will be truly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Although she can no longer be with us, we are happy knowing that the angels have taken her to be reunited with Jim, Sheri, and Ladybug.