Shirley A Cole

Shirley Ann Cole, 88, passed away on June 17, 2025, in Colorado Springs CO one month shy of her 89th birthday. Shirley was born in Effingham IL to Doris (Tucker) Davis and Don O. Higgs. Shirley married her only love, Lester “Buz” Cole in 1954 in Pekin IL. Buz preceded her in death in April 2008. They had been married for 54 years.

Shirley and Buz moved to Kankakee IL and started their family having two children, Dale and Dana. Around 1970 they moved to Michigan City IN where Buz managed a dry cleaners and Shirley worked part time. Shirley took on several part time jobs as the kids grew. She was a helper with special needs children for the MC school system and a sometime lunch lady. She also was in retail selling swimwear and dance clothing for a bit.

In the mid 1990’s Shirley and Buz retired and moved to Colorado Springs Colorado where they had spent many vacations over the years and where her son and grandkids also retired from the military. It was their dream retirement. One of her favorite things to do was for her and Buz to wake up, pack a lunch and drive to the mountains to spend the day.

Shirley and Buz were also very involved with her church family and cherished the friendships made during their time with Westchester Baptist church in Chesterton, IN and as well as Sunnyside Christian Church in Colorado Springs. At Sunnyside she was active in the prayer ministry.

Shirley fancied herself as a poet and left notebooks of her musings. While Buz was her #1 guy she also admitted to being a big John Wayne fan.

Shirley is survived by her son, Dale E. Cole, his wife YiSun Cole; daughter Dana Cole Bidlack and her husband Hal Bidlack. Shirley had two grandchildren, Kevin Cole and Kimberly Cole Montgomery, their spouses Andrew Montgomery and Karen Cole. She cherished her two great granddaughters Elina Montgomery and Leigh Cole.

Shirley is survived by one of her three brothers, Max Higgs of Effingham IL.

There will be a private memorial service with her immediate family.