William Harris Cole III

William Harris Cole, III, (known as Bill or Billy, to his family), passed away suddenly at his home on the morning of April 11, 2024, at the age of 53. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, he was a true native of his home state and loved everything about it.

Bill was an exceptionally creative man who had numerous adventures and mastered many skills. Such as designing and making knives, iron working, traveling overseas and seeing all but one American state. He was known to ride bulls and herd cattle in his younger days and for his entire life he hunted, fished, practiced shooting, and survival skills. He was a skilled welder, and the go to guy for any electrical and plumbing work and could build almost anything. He had dreams of being a pastry chef and took this passion to his own kitchen where he baked and cooked so many delicious and sometimes interesting meals and sweets for his loved ones.

Throughout his time with us, you could always hear someone telling a story about this larger-than-life man who was always helping or saving someone who needed him, whether it be a family member, a close friend, or a little girl he never met before.

He was a grizzly bear protector who gently and passionately loved all of his family and friends. He gently cared for both of his parents and was committed to making sure his mother was well cared for after the passing of his father. He was also a man who could go from the rough and tumble time with his boys, right into braiding his girl’s hair, and always had a gentle hand for his wife. He enjoyed spending time with his nephews and went on adventures with them. He truly was everything to everyone.

If asked what his favorite part of his day was, it was always coming home to his family, because he intentionally loved and protected each and every one of them whether blood or chosen. He was an irreplaceable husband and a father of six, two girls and four boys, and a grandfather to one boy, and a man who was always there for each and every one of them, and his heart was torn in half when he was not given enough time with his oldest son. He and his kids were always up to something, and loved teaching them everything. His love extended beyond his six children and increased his kid count to seven when another bonus daughter was welcomed into his family. The collective laughs that echoed through the halls from all of their mischief will be greatly missed and forever cherished. He beamed about becoming a grandfather and openly shared his excitement and began planning what his time with him would look like, which of course involved something outdoors and most definitely a loud bang here and there and hopefully a few fish on a pole. He met his wife in 2000, and they became fast friends, however they did not start dating until 2004, and officially became the B5C clan in 2009. Life with him is her greatest adventure and she feels so intensely lucky to have been loved in a way that no words could ever truly describe and although every love story is beautiful, ours is the favorite.

Bill is preceded in death by, his son William Harris Greer-Cole, IV, who passed away in 1990 and his father William Harris Cole, Jr. who passed away in 2014.

Bill is survived by his wife Christy Cole, and his children Kaitelynn Childers, her husband Joseph, Arturo Uzarraga, Jacob Uzarraga and his wife Rachel, and their son Kolton, Marina Uzarraga and her partner Aaron Mahn, Wyatt Uzarraga, and Hope Burton. His mother, Mollie Nancy Ann Cole, his sister, Tammara Edgin, her husband Bill and their two sons Noah and Micah.

From the mouth of a great man, “Life is always lagniappe ca c’est bon.”

Services will be on April 27, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.

Flite Goodyear

1300 S. Litchfield Road,

Goodyear, AZ 85338

There is a dress code to honor this man properly. American flag t-shirts, cut off button-ups, blue jeans, your favorite ball cap, and of course boots are all completely acceptable and encouraged.