Sharon Collins Cole

Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00 pm Saturday January 25, 2014 at Griggs-Schooler-Gordon Pioneer Chapel with Pastor Bob Miller & Tom Cole officiating

Family will receive friends Friday January 24, 2014 at Griggs-Schooler-Gordon Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00

Sharon was born March 7, 1947 in Camp Seale, Texas to John D. and Ernestine Collins. Sharon was raised in Lake Charles Louisiana. She met the love of her life, Tom at Glorieta Baptist Assembly in Glorieta, New Mexico. They were married August 3, 1968 at Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sharon graduated from La Grange High School in 1964, McNeese State College in 1968 with a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education (M.R.) and received her Master’s in Library Science from Sam Houston State University. She retired in 2006 with 32 years of experience as an educator helping others. Sharon worked as a teacher and library specialist at numerous schools in Texas and Louisiana including Vinton and Hathaway, Louisiana and Blooming Grove, Groesbeck, Colorado City and Dalhart, Texas. Upon retiring she and Tom volunteered at Glorieta Conference Center, Dry Creek Baptist Camp, Pineywoods Camp and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. She loved reading, cooking for others and volunteering. Sharon was known as “Grammy” to her family. Her children and grandchildren were her joy. Sharon was a member of Crossroads Country Church in Amarillo and a follower of Jesus Christ. The family would like to thank Hospice Care Of The Southwest for the love and care they gave to our Mama and family. Sharon requested that you wear bright colors to her service.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Earnest Collins and a granddaughter, Marcy Priest.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Thomas E. “Tom” Cole of Amarillo; sons, Thomas A. Cole and partner Joseph Frazier of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mike Cole and wife Amanda of Abilene, TX; daughters, Laura Holcombe and husband Coy of Eustace, Texas, Beki Denison of Colorado City, TX and Melissa Priest and husband Alex of Amarillo; brothers, Roger Collins and wife Connie of DeRidder, Louisiana and John D. Collins and wife Katie of Anniston, Alabama; grandkids, Grace Holcombe, JoGail Holcombe, Mark Denison, Matt Porter, JT Partin, Ben Woolley and John Woolley; and also by her mother-in-law, Mrs. O.W. “Chee Chee” Cole of Ragley, Louisiana.

The family suggest memorials be sent to Crossroads Country Church, Building Fund P.O. Box 50608, Amarillo, Texas 79159; McNeese Baptist Student Ministry Building Fund P.O. Box 9335. Lake Charles, Louisiana 70609 or to Hospice Care of the Southwest, Volunteer Services, 6600 Killgore Dr. Suite 110 Amarillo, Texas 79106.

Please leave online condolences at www.griggsschoolergordon.com