JACOB KEITH COLE

    Jacob Keith Cole, son of Lloyd and Blanche (Downy) Cole, was born December 13, 1924 at Lamoni, Iowa.
    Keith grew up in Benton and graduated from Benton High School in 1942. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed on the East Coast. Upon returning home, Keith ran utility lines. On November 28, 1948, Keith was united in marriage to Betty L. Johnston at Grant City, Missouri. Keith and Betty lived in Benton for a few years where Keith operated the Benton station. In 1953, Keith and Betty moved to Mount Ayr to own and operate businesses in Mount Ayr. They began with Cole’s Firestone and added Cole’s True Value. They would later own the Dairy Sweet and the Music Store.
    Keith loved to golf and he belonged to the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club for many years. He also enjoyed bowling and he dabbled in the stock market.
    Keith passed away September 3, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Dick Cole and an infant daughter Betty Jane Cole; all five of his siblings Darrell Cole, James “Forest” Cole, Bob Cole, Ruth Henry and Bonnie Edwards; parents-in-law, Darrell and Lena (Main) Johnston and a brother-in-law Bill Johnston.
    Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Betty Cole of Mount Ayr; son Steve Cole and wife Kathy of Washington, Iowa; daughter-in-law Terri Cole of Mount Ayr; grandchildren Kelsie (Story) Schankel, Shelby (Ryan) Ravens, and Justin (Chanelle) Cole; great-grandchildren Rylan Ravens, Sawyer Schankel and Khloe Schankel; sisters-in-law Doris Cole, Loretta Cole and Donnie Johnston; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
    Services were held Friday, September 5, 2014 at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with Pastor Bill Armstrong officiating.
    Burial was in the Benton Cemetery in Benton, Iowa.
    Memorial funds have been established for the Mount Ayr Fire Department and HCI Care Services in Mount Ayr.