Gary Wayne Cole

Gary Wayne Cole, 61, of Itasca passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Bob Messor officiating. A visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2021, at the funeral home. He will lie in state from 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2021.

Gary was born June 25, 1959, in Fort Worth, Texas to Wayne Cole and Gertrude (Thies) Cole. He had two sisters, Sandra and Debbie. Gary loved to fish, hunt, camp and cook BBQ, but his true happy place was surrounded by his family.

Gary married the love of his life, Debra Gilstrap Cole, in 1976 and they were blessed with two children, Melony Kirkpatrick and Cory Cole. After graduating high school, Gary served four years in the United States Air Force.  After a short two years of employment with a major machine shop, Gary began a 35 year career with Union Pacific Railroad.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Wayne; mother, Trudy; and sister, Sandra.

Gary is survived by his wife, Debbie; daughter, Melony Kirkpatrick and husband, Jason, of Itasca; son Cory Cole, and fiancé, Corina Eason, of Itasca; sister, Debbie Cole of Bryan; grandchildren, Logan, Lacee, Mason, Parker, Kaylei, Brayden, Canaan and Gracee;  and one great grandson, Kaysen. He is also survived by bonus grandchildren, Hannah, Taylon, Maddie, Bennie, Robert, Michael, and Lainey; mother-in-law, Sylvia Wallace of Cleburne; father-in-law, Robert Gilstrap and wife, June, of Hillsboro; sister-in-law, Susan Bason and husband, Daniel, of Itasca; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Watts Chapel, in memory of Gary Cole at  P. O. Box 322, Grandview, TX 76050.