Obituary of Wilfred Ezra Cole

Wilfred Ezra Cole was born July 27, 1918 in Parry Sound, Ontario. He grew up in various parts of Ontario, ending up in Port Loring. There he worked in logging and hunting camps. Red guided tourists on hunting and fishing trips and was often requested by name. It was during this time that he met and married Ruth Brooks. On February 17 of this year they had been married for 69 years. In 1948, Red and Ruth bought a brand new Dodge 1 ton pickup for $1442.00, and they headed west. The original plan was Quesnel however, at that time, the Hart Highway wasn't finished. They decided to stop in Dawson Creek and 64 years later, they were still here. In 1950, their first child, Daneen was born. Followed by Coleen in 1952. Red had various jobs working for the Village of Dawson Creek, Hector Tremblay, Horne & Pitfield, and MacDonalds Consolidated. In 1953, Red and Bill Odenak opened the Grandview Store in a building they had moved from Rolla. Bill sold his share of the store to Red a couple of years later and opened Bill's News. In 1958 Red sold the store to Mel Marcel and in 1961 he bought a half section in North Kilkerran. He was home at last. Red and Ruth spent the next 47 years on the farm. Red raised cows, pigs, horses, chickens and took in any stray animal that came around. He became very good at being an amateur vet. Even teaching his grandsons that when the cows were ready to calve, they needed to check "their ears". The neighbors often called on Red to help with calving and branding, or just general animal advice. Over the years, Red, Ruth and the girls took numerous holidays to Ontario and Southern BC. Even after the girls left home, they continued to travel with their motor home with various other relatives. Red's favorite thing to do was fish. Red's grandson Dennis often took him fishing to lakes in the area. Red would sit in the boat for hours and if he happened to catch a fish then it was a bonus. As Red's dementia progressed, Dennis heard the same stories over and over again. His patience with this was wonderful, considering his patience is usually like his mother's..quite short!! In 2000, at the age of 82, Red ran over himself with the tractor while haying. He was sent to the hospital in Edmonton for surgery, and then to the Dawson Creek hospital for a month before going home. Three days later Red was in the bucket of the tractor, with Coleen at the controls, as he cleaned the eaves on the house. Some may call this stubborn, but to the rest of us, that was just Red Cole. Red had many friends and close neighbors like the Deaks, the Garlinskis, the Huttons, the Lamberts, and the Turners. He truly enjoyed having coffee and a complaint session, mostly about the government, with all of you. In the later years, Red and I were very fortunate to have our time together. I rented the farm land, brought goodies for coffee time, or when Ruth just needed a break from Red, I was just a phone call away. For the last few years Red resided at Rotary Manor. The staff was good to him and for the most part he enjoyed being there. Red is survived by his wife; of 69 years, Ruth, His 2 daughters, Daneen (Calvin), and Coleen (Ted), grandsons Dale (Sharlene) and Dennis (Joanne), 6 great grandchildren, Amanda (Cody), Jordan, Danika, Shanna, Dryden, and Savanna,1 great great granddaughter Paisley, and two step great grandchildren Devon and Jilleena. As Red would say. "See you in the funny paper". Red passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2012 in Dawson Creek, at the age of 93 years. A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 11:00 am from Reynars Funeral Chapel. Bev Dunsmore officiated. Interment will be at a later date. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium