Billie Bernadine Cole

Billie Bernadine Bates Cole of Lake Jackson, Texas passed away on Friday, March 7, 2014. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Mildred and Eldon Bates. Eldon Bates passed away when Billie was very young. John Mavris married her widowed mother and became the only father she ever really knew and loved.

Billie married Marvin Cole on June 22, 1957 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and she worked to help put him through college. They moved to Lake Jackson in 1962 when Marvin started his career at Dow. Billie chose to devote her time to caring for her family. She found joy raising her three children and later enjoyed her grandchildren. Her priorities were God first, family second, others next and self last.

Billie loved serving others. She taught Sunday School classes for children and youth for many years at The First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson. She served in the 11th grade department for 23 years as Outreach Director. She then coordinated social events and outreach for the Adult V Sunday School Department as long as she was able. Later when illness prevented her from serving God in traditional ways, she made a point to share the Gospel with the various health professionals with whom she came in contact at the dialysis clinic, doctors’ offices, and hospitals.

Billie had many creative interests. For many years she decorated wedding cakes that were as beautiful as they were delicious. She enjoyed learning to paint and dearly loved the ladies in Dolores Reynolds painting class. For several years her Christmas cards featured one of her own paintings from that year. She also enjoyed painting ceramics and taught a ceramics class. A gifted seamstress, Billie was able to make everything from little girl’s dresses to men’s suits and tuxedos. Most recently she crafted quilts for her grandchildren to be enjoyed for generations to come.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mildred Mavris; her biological father, Eldon Bates; and a brother, Bernard Carl Bates.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Marvin Cole of Lake Jackson; father John Mavris of Lake Jackson; daughter Diana Cole Henderson and husband Charles of Lubbock, Texas; son Michael Cole and wife Suzanne of Chickamauga, Georgia; and grandchildren Rebecca Henderson Seekatz and husband Brian, Rachael Henderson, Caroline Henderson, Michael R. Cole, Jennifer Cole, Makayla Cole, and Bethany Cole.

A celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church Lake Jackson on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation is scheduled from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 10th at Restwood Funeral Home.

Pallbearers are Richey Wallis, Chuck Stone, Debs Cofer, Tilden West, Robert Danford and Clayton Johnston. Honorary pallbearers are the Adult V Sunday School Department of First Baptist Church Lake Jackson.