John Floyd "Possum" Cole, Sr.

John Floyd “Possum” Cole, Sr. John Floyd “Possum” Cole, Sr. of Huntsville, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 27, 2013, surrounded by family in his home. He passed into Heaven due to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). John was born on May 21, 1930 in North Zulch, Texas to Jake Raymond and Lilla Morgan Cole. During his life, he was a very successful business man and yet a simple man at heart. He had a great love for family and friends, always championing for the “underdog”. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Manuel Cole, Jack Leon “Coon” Cole, and Sister Mavis Cole Boswell. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Whitten Cole, son John Floyd Cole, Jr. (Elizabeth), daughter Lisa Annette Johnson (Marty), grandchildren Cole Davis and Connor Davis, Jacob, Morgan and Nathan Cole, great-grandson Chad Davis, brother Kenneth Ray Cole (Barbara), sisters Nelva Cole Pratt and Gracie Cole Sanders as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He attended Madisonville High School and Lon Morris College where he played basketball and made many friends. He served as Tank Commander of the 44th Tank Battalion during the Korean conflict from February 1952 to February 1954. He was also a 50+ year 32nd degree Mason. After being honorably discharged from the military, he entered the retail automobile business in Pasadena, Texas. In 1970, he and his brother, Jack Leon “Coon” Cole purchased Charles & Sam Motor Company, a General Motors dealership in Huntsville, Texas. Upon moving to Huntsville, the Cole brothers renamed the dealership Cole Motor Company. He enjoyed 17 years at Cole Motor Company and most of his customers became immediate friends for the rest of his life. He will be remembered for having a magnetic personality and being a man of his word. Possum was involved in the community and had a special love for the development of the Walker County Fair Association (WCFA). He was an original founding director of the WCFA in 1978 and Cole Motor Company was a big supporter of the WCFA for many years. Possum and his brother, “Coon” Cole, had purchased 65 acres on Highway 30 West for future development, but agreed to sell it to the Walker County Fair Association for the development of the current fair location. He also served on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Area Go Texan Committee, supported the Scramble Heifer Program, the Junior Livestock Sale, and was a Silver Spur Member. In addition, he served as a Director of Sam Houston National Bank. Upon the sale of Cole Motor Company in 1987, he entered semi-retirement and became involved in rental property, private investments, and raising cattle on land he owned in Madison County. In 1998, he acquired the first of three Foretravel motor coaches and enjoyed traveling for many years with dear friends across the United States until his health became an obstacle. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. David Prier and Dr. Sudhir Sehgal for years of dedicated care and concern; the nursing staff of Huntsville Memorial Hospital; Carolyn Williams, R.N. and Susan Caraballo, R.N. of Embassy Hospice. Visitation will be held at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Services will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at the Huntsville Church of Christ at 2:00 pm. Following the service, there will be a private internment ceremony for family and close friends. The service will be officiated by Brother James Featherstone, Brother Reagan Cooksey, and Brother William Wesson. Nephews will serve as Pallbearers and the following will serve as Honorary Pallbearers: DC Averitt; A.L. (Dick) Campbell; Charles Hale; Judge Ken Keeling; Dr. Mickey Moore; Ronnie Williams; Wilber Wood; and, Dr. Mike Ritchey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following charities of choice: The Walker County Fair Association, PO Box 1817, Huntsville, Texas 77342; or the COPD Foundation, 20 F Street NW, Suite 200A Washington, DC 20001. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

John Floyd "Possum" Cole, Sr.

May 21, 1930 - October 27, 2013