James Lawrence Cole, age 72, of Livingston, Texas, passed May 26, 2024. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, June 1, at noon, at 142 Rowe Lane, Moscow, Texas.
James was born February 23, 1952, at Wesley Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Cecil Cole and Juanita Rowland. In 1960 James moved to Texas with his parents and older brother Johnny Cole.
In 1967, at the age of 17, James knew that Jesus was calling him to ministry. Following that call in 1969, James began seminary at Fred Jordan Missions, Los Angeles, Calif., and completed his pastoral degree in 1972. This was just the start of James’ 52 years in humble service by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
In the summer of 1987, he married the love of his life and wife of almost 37 years, Danna Cole. They were 37 and 36 years of age, respectively, at the time. They became a blended family with 10 daughters and 4 sons. By spring 1991 their family was complete, adding 2 more daughters.
James often said in his youth, “I will never bring any children into the world.” While telling the story later in life, he added, “You ever want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”
James and Danna pursued God’s calling in their lives together. From 1987-2024, they engaged in many different Outreach Ministries and Missionary Work. In 2011 they started answersintheword.com. This allowed James to follow his life’s dream of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.
Mark 16:15 – KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
James loved people and wanted to share his love and knowledge of Jesus and the Holy Spirit with anyone that would give him an ear. His passion for learning resulted in a personal library of books, CD’s and his teachings, available globally through answersintheword.com.
When he was not reading or studying the Bible, he was counseling and ministering to people or working on one of his many real estate projects. He loved his family and was selfless with his time for counseling, discipleship, and mentoring others.
(John 21:15-17)
In what spare time he had, he loved spending time with his children, and grandchildren. Being near the water, scuba diving with his wife or fishing with his sons, daughters, and grandchildren. James is a deeply beloved husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, and friend.
James is proceeded in death by his parents Cecil Cole and Jaunita Rowland, brother Johnny Cole, father-in-law Dan Whitlock, mother-in-law Betty Terry, stepson Arthur Lyle, grandson Jason Frost and his beloved daughters, Leilani Cole and Kristina Cole.
He is survived by his loving wife Danna Cole, son James C. Cole & wife Maria, daughter Laura Berg & partner Chris Lodie, daughter Michelle Cole-Bartholomew & husband Donald, daughter Mary Marquez (Cole) & Husband Erik, daughter- Lilly Du-Toit (Cole) & Husband Petrus, stepson Omar Lyle & Wife Jessica, daughter- Alisa Vinson, daughter Larina McClain and husband Chris, son Richard Vinson, stepdaughter Joppa Lyle, stepdaughter Sarah Lyle, stepdaughter Celeste Bourne & husband Justin, stepdaughter Julie Heliers and husband Taylor, grandchildren Jason, Gabriel, Stephanie, Jeffery and Brian Berg, Caleb, Alora, John Michael, Lucy and Gabriella Cole, Abigail Bartholomew, Brad Cole and Laila King, Savannah Frost, Lillianna Wilcox and Yarailee and Eli Marquez, Gerard and Christina Du-Toit, Sarah Lyle, Jaren & Kylie, Brandi McClain, Raven Lyle, Logan and Felix Brown, Spencer Lyle, and Caitlyn Fuchs, and great-grandchildren Clayton Sanchez, Ava Holmes, Kai and Grayson Ward.
A message from the kids: While we have lost our most beloved dad, many have lost a friend and loved one. He has been a rock to so many, a master at sarcastic humor and wit, the giver of the best nicknames and sometimes a glorious pain in the neck, but no matter what happened between you in your lives, once he marked you as important to him, he’d be by your side. There was so much more to him than just being our dad, though to us, that was his greatest role!
He was also a friend, a coworker and colleague, a brother, a stand-in paternal figure to the fatherless, a self-proclaimed “handyman,” a musician, a teacher and the list goes on and on.
It was Dad’s wish that we laugh, reminisce, and smile together remembering he is alive! Because he believed that Jesus died to save us from our sins, he is living eternally in heaven, and we will meet again.
If you would like to know that same peace, say this prayer: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things – and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Savior. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life. Amen!