Donald Lee Cole

Donald "Don" Lee Cole, age 84 of Oakland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2011. Don was born on March 2, 1927, in Hammond, Oregon, to Ila B. (Mohr) and Hugh A. Cole. He grew up in the Umpqua, Oregon, area where his ancestors had settled in the 1840's. In his teens he moved to Sacramento, California, where he developed a passion for aviation, drafting and mechanics. He graduated from Grant Union High School in 1944 where he was voted best looking boy in his class. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during World War II. He returned home to the Sutherlin area where he started a sawmill operation with his family. He met and married Ruth J. Thompson, his wife of 53 years, in 1950. Don spent most of his working career operating a construction company, where he was known for his skill and craftsmanship.
Don enjoyed working on his ranch, hunting, sharing comic strips, gardening and baking his famous pies.
Don is survived by his children; son, Richard and Deborah Cole of Nashville, Tennessee; son, Rodney Cole of Oakland; daughter, Kelley and Rick Plueard of Sutherlin, Oregon; daughter, Kristen Cole of Forest Grove, Oregon; and son, Ryan and Cheryl Cole of Glide, Oregon; grandchildren, Joseph Plueard and his wife, Jennifer of Springfield, Oregon; Jessie Plueard of Sutherlin; Justin Cole of Nashville; Jameson Plueard of Lake Oswego, Oregon; Martin S. Johnson IV of Bethany, Oregon; Jacob Cole of Glide, Oregon; Joe, Zach, Lydia and Greg Oliveira of Glide; and great-grandchildren, Joseph and Julia Plueard of Springfield, Oregon. Don is also survived by friends and family too numerous to mention.
The family invites you to attend graveside services on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Coles Valley Cemetery in Umpqua, Oregon. A potluck gathering will be held at the Umpqua Community Center (old Umpqua school) immediately following. Chapel of the Roses is assisting the family with arrangements 541-459-2281