Joe Don Cole

Joe Don Cole, beloved husband, father, and friend passed away Wednesday, February 25th, surrounded by his family He was born December 9th, 1939 in Wewoka, Oklahoma to K.D. Cole and Betty Cole. In high school, he was an All‑American athlete, a leader in many clubs, band, and a member of the 171st Field Artillery of the National Guard. He graduated from Wewoka High School in 1958 and earned a scholarship to play football for the University of Oklahoma under Coach Bud Wilkinson and later at East Central State College. Plagued by injuries, he was forced to retire from football. Joe Don continued his passion for football by serving as an assistant football coach at Central State University of Oklahoma. He spent his professional life with Combined Insurance until he retired. He had a natural gift for sales and an unwavering positive mental attitude that defined him his entire life.

Joe Don loved life fiercely and fought very hard to stay with his family. He was a devoted husband of 59 years to Margie, his wife, whom he met while she was teaching in Wilburton, Oklahoma; they married in 1967. They had three children and 7 grandchildren whom he loved taking vacations with and hosting family barbecues. Silver Dollar City, Colorado, and Padre Island were probably his most favorite places in the world, as long as it was with all his children and grandchildren. He also loved to take his family camping in his VW van every summer as well as sailing his Hobie Cat Catamaran, swimming, and scuba diving. One of his most favorite memories was spending time in the Bahamas with Margie and her sister Ricki. He loved spending time outside.

Joe Don had a deep love for documenting our family’s life. Every celebration, milestone, holiday, and even the simplest ordinary day was worth preserving in his eyes. He believed our history mattered.

As he grew older, that passion only deepened. He began writing constantly—carefully chronicling the story of his grandfather, Manley Leonidas Misenheimer, who was a newspaper man, owned the Kiowa Chronicle and a State Representative. Joe Don wanted future generations to understand where they came from and the stories that shaped us.

He wrote letters, too—thoughtful notes to family and friends for birthdays, holidays, special milestones, and sometimes for no reason at all other than to say, “I’m thinking of you”. He put his heart and his thoughts onto paper, creating a legacy of love in his own words.

He was fearless, outgoing, adventurous, quick with a smile and a joke, very handsome, and he gave everything for those he loved. He was a pitmaster, a dancer, a piano player,

and singer. He was a pilot, a deep sea scuba diver and a fantastic pool player. He loved watching football (OU and Dallas Cowboys), movies, reading, and playing games — backgammon was a particular favorite, and family nights of Risk are cherished memories for many.

He is survived by his wife Margie Ann Cole of Oklahoma City; three children, daughter Rachelle Cole-Stephenson and her husband Brian Stephenson of Dallas, Tx, Joseph Cole and his wife Whitney of Oklahoma City, Ashley Mayo and husband Corey of Edmond Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Lauren Ashley Stephenson of Los Angeles, Ca, Michael Brian Stephenson of Dallas, Tx, Elizabeth Grace Stephenson of Galveston, Tx, Ashton Corey Mayo, Norman, Oklahoma, Ayden Dale Mayo of Edmond, Oklahoma, Alayna Elizabeth Mayo of Edmond, Oklahoma and Luciana Elaine Cole of Oklahoma City; his nephew Ladd Hodgins of Arlington Texas, niece Tracey Cole and her aunt Carol Ann Maguire, long time family friend Jim Phillips, his most faithful dog Max, Calico Kitty, and many cousins from both the Cole and Misenheimer family; multiple good friends (too many to list), as well as his classmates from Wewoka — including his lifelong best friend Joe Tom Cox.

He was preceded in death by his parents K.D. Cole and Betty Cole, his brother Danny Cole and his wife Maureen Cole, his sister Mary Elizabeth Hinkle and her daughter Lisa Hodgins, Joe’s childhood best friends, who were thought of as brothers, Jerry Dodd and Jim Hutchins of Aubrey, Texas, who passed away a week before Joe Don.

In true Joe Don fashion, we invite his friends and family to gather the way he loved best — with good food, good stories, and the people who meant the most to him. We will be hosting a barbecue featuring his favorite queso, followed by a time of remembrance and gathering at his final resting place near his mom and dad.

Come share a meal, memories, and laughter as we honor the life he lived so fully and the legacy he leaves behind.

Dad’s wish came from a letter he sent Joe Tom Cox:

“But because of Joe’s (Tom) special love for his Christ He has given me hope for the end of my life… To join God, My Savior, my friends My family, my loved ones… to be with me again.”

How to Live Well

By Joe Don Cole

To my astonishing friends, my amazing family and me,

May you keep getting to know yourself better…

And continue loving what you discover.

May you never stop learning, growing or dreaming.

May you travel to places you’ve always wanted to go…

And find yourself right at home wherever you are.

May you take up something new…

Or something old that you put aside once upon a time.

May you take good care of yourself in every possible way…

And let those who love you take care of you now and then, too.