Rebecca Cole

Becky was born Rebecca Lynn Huddleston, the fourth of four children to Reese and Shirley Huddleston on February 10th in 1968. She passed away, a short 43 years and 6 days later on February 16th of 2011. Along the way she touched all of us, making us better, in her own special way.

She grew up sharing a small house in South East Portland with her parents, brothers Rod and Jerry, her sister Susan, and a family friend, Glen Smith, who was a brother in all but name. While she was attending Portland Christian and Franklin High School where she played on the basketball team and sang in the choir, she was a member of the youth groups at both Woodstock and later Mount Scott Churches of God. She was baptized by Pastor Sam Hooker, had a strong faith in God and a stronger love for her family.

After high school, she wandered a bit, settling in Reno, Nevada for a while but ultimately returning to Portland. While working as a receptionist for a small family insurance company, she met her future husband Russ Cole, whose brother, David, and sister-in-law, Sherri, owned the company. She decided to join her good friend and boss Sherri and Russ one beautiful November day in 1992, when they went jogging. Her sweatshirt was old and her sweatshirt had holes in them. She would later say that it was the holes in her sweatpants that attracted Russ to her. He would say it was her shining smile and sense of humor that stole his heart. They had a marvelous time that first day and were married just less than two years later in August of 1994.

She and Russ raised his two children, daughter Brienne and son Aaron, from the time they were 8 and 5 years old respectively in their home outside Beavercreek. A number of years later, they decided to have children of their own together. Their first son, Jordan, was born in August of 2002 and just shy of two years later, their second son, Noah, was born in August of 2004. All four children were the light of her life and gave her the strength and the will to perservere through the years of health an physical challenges she has to endure. When she could, she enjoyed boating on the Columbia River and tent camping in the Cascades with her family and friends.

She was always happiest when surrounded by her family, and it grew to be a large one. Her sister Susan had four daughters while her brother Jerry had a son and three daughters as well. While the families were separated by many miles, Jerry having moved to the Los Angeles area and Rod to Hawaii, they talked regularly and never missed a chance for small reunions. She spoke several times daily with both her mother and sister and the families got together whenever they could find an excuse for a gathering.

She had a green thumb and could grow any house plant, frequently saving plants given to her which were near death and making them flourish with her love. During the summers, she planted flowers around her home and would spend hours each day watering and caring for her beautiful gardens which were a riot of color throughout the summer months.

She survived by her husband Russ, children Brienne, Aaron, Jordan, and Noah, her mother Shirley, Sister Susan, brothers Jerry and Rod, one nephew and seven nieces, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 11:30am at Kern park Christian Church followed by a reception at the church. Burial will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park at 3:00pm. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 12:00pm until 5:00pm.

Becky’s family and friends all describe her as one of the most giving, caring, and funniest people ever to grace the planet. She loved and lived for her family and friends with passion that will be sorely missed by all of them. While the earth has lost a most beautiful flower, heaven has been blessed with the arrival of a beautiful soul.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.