JAMES RAY COLE, 65, was born Aug. 5, 1934 in
Eastland, TX, and died June 7, 2000, in San
Antonio, TX, with burial in Boerne Cemetery.
From the age of 13, Jimmie Ray was raised by
his grandparents, Pappy and Grandma Cole, and
he loved playing basketball and football. He
wanted to be a professional baseball player
and was an avid Cubs fan. He survived a car-
train wreck but his uncle's car did not. After
graduating from Ranger High School in the Class
of 1952 at Ranger, TX, he attended Ranger Jr.
College and graduated from Hardin-Simmons
University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He
studied theology at SW Baptist Theological
Seminary in Fort Worth. James received his
bachelor & master of science degrees from Pan
American University in Edinburg, TX, and
completed his doctoral studies in education
at Texas A&M University.
His professional life included a 10-year management
career with the Gates Rubber Company in Colorado
and Kentucky and a 30-year career in education.
He taught school in Lamesa, McAllen and Boerne;
served as director for Adult and Continuing
Education in McAllen; served as vice principal
at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station
and as superintendent of schools in Blue Ridge,
TX. He retired from education as elementary
principal in Comfort, Texas. James was a member
of Masonic Lodge 897 and a deacon of the Chapel
Hill Baptist Church. James' passion was the
written word and his vast collection includes
volumes of Christian literature. Always striving
to learn and understand more, he studied and
researched what he had read and shared his
knowledge with his family and friends.
James is survived by his high school sweetheart
and wife of 45 years, Patricia Williams Cole
(RHS-1954); two daughters and their husbands,
Sandra and Craig Radtke of Boerne, and Suzan
and Brad Vangsnes of McAllen; a son, Michael,
of San Diego, CA.; four grandchildren, Leighton
and Lauren Radtke and Everett and Evan Vangsnes;
one brother Artie Morrow of San Jose, CA.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Jack
W. Cole & Lois P. Moore.