Margaret Cole

Margaret C. Cole, 96, an Abilene native, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  She was born on May 28, 1921 to Dr. Thomas B. Cox and Herries Grey McKinley Cox, early day Abilene pioneers.  Dr. Cox was one of the first dentists to set up practice in Abilene.

After attending and graduating from Abilene schools, she attended Hardin-Simmons University and later graduated from Baylor University where she was a member of Alpha Kappa Delta.  Later she attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth.

Mrs. Cole was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Abilene and taught in the Children’s Department for 35 years.  She also was a member of the Sarah Sunday School class in Adult I.

Margaret went to work in 1951 for the Farmers & Merchants National Bank, now First Financial Bank, and stayed until her retirement in 1986.  She was an active member of Hendrick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and also volunteered for Abilene Baptist Social Ministries.

Survivors include one son, Thomas W. Cole II and wife, Marilyn of Abilene; two grandsons, Dr. Thomas Berry Cole and wife, Lisa of Holly Springs, North Carolina and Robert Brian Cole of Abilene.  Great-grandchildren include Mason Thomas and Lauren Rylee, also of Holly Springs.  Also surviving are nieces and nephew, Alice Ruse, Jon Caudle and wife Denise, and Laura Caudle Odneal and husband, Tracy.  Also, she leaves behind her dear friends, Bettie Sylvanus and her son, Tommy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Joyce and her husband, Joe Caudle and one nephew, Brad Caudle.

A service of celebration will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Rev. Tracy Odneal of Farmersville, Texas will officiate.  Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice, 1651 Pine Street, Abilene, TX 79601; or to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605.