Gary Cole Sr.

COLE, Gary Lee Sr. - age 81, died Saturday, July 4, 2015. He was born February, 19, 1934 in Davison. "Coach" was truly a winner, despite a difficult childhood. He was orphaned at birth, living with many different people, including relatives. At age 11, he was adopted by a childless couple, Leonard & Marguerite Cole who truly loved him. He was a gifted athlete lettering in baseball, football, basketball, and track all four years of high school. He received a full ride scholarship to MSU for both baseball and basketball, but instead enlisted in the Marines for active duty in the Korean War. Gary married his high school sweetheart, Elayne Carlson, to whom he was married for 61 years. They raised seven wonderful children. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University, remarkably on the same day as his mom, Marguerite, who also earned a teaching degree. Gary was a successful industrial arts teacher at Carman and Ainsworth High Schools, where his students won many honors at the state level. He was a passionate and well-known coach at Carman and Ainsworth, leading championship football teams to the all-metro and state levels. Seeing it as more than a game, Coach had a way of touching the spirit of each player, inspiring them to realize their individual and collective potential. Named Michigan High School Coach of the Year several times, he was inducted into the Carman-Ainsworth Hall of Fame in 2013, along with his 1969 Carman Football Team and 1976 Ainsworth Football Team. For his athletic accomplishments, he is in Linden High School Hall of Fame. Later, he had a second career in pensions and insurance, where he had his own agency and won honors including National Salesman of the Year many times. Gary was also an ethical outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father and sons. Having a child who struggled, Gary, with his wife Elayne, were active in stamping out stigma against mental illness. They were members of NAMI, had their home phone number on a billboard as a hotline to help families in need, and bravely allowed the Flint Journal to document their story in a front page feature. As fate would have it, in later life, Gary was happy to find out about his birth parents, half siblings, and other family members, some of whom he met. Famous for his curly red hair, fiery temperament and good heart, Gary was a winner in all he attempted: sports, life and business. Gary Cole died peacefully at home, after a prolonged illness, surrounded by his family and cats (Sassee, Sissee, and Mighty Mouse). He is survived by his wife, Elayne; children Barbara, Marcia, Billie Jo, Michael, David, Laurie and their families; sisters Vivian, Margaret, Barbara; many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is proceeded in death by his son Gary, Jr., brother Russ, sisters Dorothy, and Jean. The family welcomes Gary's community at the Sharp Funeral Home, 209 Broad Street, Linden: Visitation Thursday, July 9, 11am - 2 pm and 4 - 8 pm; Visitation Friday, July 10, 1 - 3 pm followed by a service. Donations to: Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. bbrfoundation.org

Visitation

Thursday, July 9, 2015 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sharp Funeral Homes - Linden Chapel
209 E. Broad Street Linden 48451, United States

Visitation

Friday, July 10, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Sharp Funeral Homes - Linden Chapel
209 E. Broad Street Linden 48451, United States

Funeral Service

Friday, July 10, 2015 3:00 PM
Sharp Funeral Homes - Linden Chapel
209 E. Broad Street Linden 48451, United States