Leo T. Cole

Leo T. Cole died October 9, 2024, at Mont Belvieu Rehab and Health Center after a ten-year battle with Vascular Dementia, Parkinson's, and Basal Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer). He was preceded in death by his parents, Lena Fay Wells Cole and Willie Alvin Cole; his brother, James Alvin Cole; his brother, Charles Cole; his sister-in-law, Mildred Wynn Cole McCarty; his niece, Deborah Cole Harrison; and his son-in-law, Nathan Lon Franks.

Leo was born at home in Star City, Arkansas, on March 25, 1939. He was delivered by Dr. Leo T. Taylor, and his parents named him after the doctor. Three years later Dr. Taylor delivered Barbora Kay Martin, who later became Leo's wife. We never knew how to pronounce Leo's middle name, so he just always used his middle initial.

Leo graduated from Star City High School in 1957 and went to Henderson State Teacher's College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on a football scholarship. He left after 18 months.

Leo met Barbora Kay Martin at Star City School in 1955. Her friend, Johnie Grey Scott, introduced them, and Barbora fell in love with Leo even though she was only 13 years old and in the 9th grade, and Leo was 16. They dated six years before Leo went into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for six months, and then he was recalled to duty during the Berlin Crisis. He spent ten months in Fort Benning, Georgia. They married in October 1961 but didn't live together for ten months since Barbora was in college at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Leo was in the Army. Barbora lived in Rison, Arkansas, after she graduated from college. When Leo got home from the Army, they moved back to Star City, Arkansas.

Barbora's cousin, John Knight, suggested that they come to Texas and let John show him where to go to get a better paying job. At the time, Leo was making $1.25 an hour at the shirt factory in Star City. Barbora was told she had to leave her job because she couldn't work in maternity clothes (1963!!!).

They moved to Baytown, Texas, in July 1963. Leo worked for A. J. Mundy Contractors, then Texas Eastern, and finally ARCO Chemicals (now Lyondell Basel) in Channelview where he retired in 1997. Barbora also retired that year, so they had almost 28 years of retirement together.

Their first baby girl, Tina Kay, was born in December 1963. Their second daughter, Christi Lynn, was born in December 1978. Leo took each girl hunting, and they both loved being in the woods and spotting deer. Barbora usually stayed home.

Barbora and Leo started snow skiing in Colorado after a friend told them it was OK for people in their 40s to learn to ski. They went by themselves the first time but then got the family involved, and everyone loved to ski. Barbora's sister, Marilyn, went with them many times. Leo taught many novices to ski, which amazed Barbora since he had almost failed ski school!! He talked about going back to Colorado and skiing for a long time. Barbora knew there was no way he could do that, but it was his dream.

Leo is survived by his wife, Barbora Kay Martin Cole; his daughters, Tina Kay Cole Floyd and her husband, John, who reside in La Marque; and Christi Lynn Cole Franks who lives in Wallisville. Grandchildren are Katie (Kat) Webb Holloway and her husband, Tyler, who live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Joseph Alexander Floyd and Morgan Zegarelli, who live in La Marque with their daughter, Saylor Grace Floyd; Heather Floyd Eanes and husband, Chad, who reside in Kyle, Texas; Haley Renee Turner Williams and husband, Robert, who live in Beaufort, South Carolina, with their children, Preston, Brooks, and Blaise; Nathan Leo Franks and his fiance, Candace Wilson, who live in Dayton, Texas; Nicholas Lon Franks, who resides in Wallisville, Texas, and Alexis Rose Rincon Samples and her husband, Drake Samples, who live in Baytown with their children, Stella Rose Samples and Wesley Draven Samples.

Barbora's sisters, Marilyn Sue Martin Decker and her husband, Louis, Dickinson, Texas, and Myra Martin, Rogers, Arkansas, also survive Leo. He was like a big brother to the sisters through the years.

Leo is also survived by his brother, Everett Cole, and his wife, Margaret Ann Smith Cole of Bartlett, Tennessee. Many nieces and nephews also survive him. His nieces, Sharon Kay Cole Allen of Cordova, Tennessee, and Kathy Ann Cole Ledbetter of Bartlett, were so good to call, send cards, flowers, etc. for years. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews who were from his brother, James Alvin Cole.

Leo always had vegetable gardens wherever they lived. He also grew Meyer Lemons and several varieties of oranges, which he shared with friends and family.

He and Barbora became members of Second Baptist Church in Baytown in 1963, and they taught four-year-old children for about 35 years.

They both retired early in 1997 and traveled for years with Lynne Foley and the Lee College Senior Adults. They also made day trips with Carolyn and Robert Francis (St. John's Methodist Church) and Rogers and Lisa Simmons and their group from Highlands First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be at Second Baptist Church, 6227 North Main, Baytown, Texas,on Wednesday, October 16, at 10 a.m. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Cedarcrest Cemetery, 3010 Ferry Road, Baytown, TX. Funeral arrangements are by Navarre. Memorials to Second Baptist Church Kidventure, 6227 North Main, Baytown, TX, 77521, would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

The family appreciates the care he received at Mont Belvieu Rehab and Health Center for four years and the care from Traditions Hospice for the last two years. We especially thank Nicole Pantin Holmes; Lisa Bagwell; the Chaplain, Leslie Fenter; and Katelyn who kept Leo so clean.