Clifford A. Cole

CLIFFORD A. COLE
Clifford A. Cole, 89, Independence MO, died Wednesday, December 15, 2004, at the Rosewood Health Center. Services will be at 11:00 am Monday, December 20, at the Stone Church Community of Christ; burial in Mound Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm Sunday at Speaks Suburban Chapel. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Groves Endowment Fund, or to Outreach International. Mr. Cole was born November 16, 1915, in Lamoni, IA, to Fayette and Mable Cole. He had attended Graceland College in Lamoni, the University of Wyoming, and received his Bachelor of Science in Education at Central Missouri State. Mr. Cole did post-graduate work at the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago, and received his Masters in Education at UMKC in 1957. He was ordained as a minister in the Community of Christ in 1939 and spent his life in service to the church as a full-time appointee. He was on the Council of Twelve from 1958 until 1980, acting as President of the Council from 1964 until 1980. He then served in the First Presidency from 1980 until 1982. He was a prolific writer and enjoyed teaching. Mr. Cole is survived by his wife, Lucile, of the home; 3 children, Alethea Allen and her husband Justus, Las Vegas, NV, Beverly Hilburn and husband Glenn, Blue Springs, MO, and Larry Cole and wife Phyllis, Independence, MO; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; his brother, Elbert Cole, Castroville, CA; and many other loving relatives and friends. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.speakschapel.com. (Arrangments: Speaks Suburban Chapel)