Billy Hugh Cole Jr., 77, of Elizabethton, passed away Friday, March 9, 2018, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Born November 21, 1940 in Big Springs, Texas, he was a son of the late Billy Hugh Cole Sr. and Loree Sybil Bryant Cole.
Billy was retired from the United States Navy after 20 years of service. He served during the Vietnam Era. He had lived in Elizabethton for the past 23 years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Richard H. Cole and Michael W. Cole, and a sister, Lorena Graeter.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Katherine Frates Cole; five children, Sally Boling, Elizabethton, Chester McMahan, Lexington Park, Md., Donna Ramey and Susan Partain, both of Abilene, Texas, and Melissa Akins, Elizabethton; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Billy Hugh Cole Jr. will be conducted at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Memorial Funeral Chapel. The graveside service and interment will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in the Blevins Cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of ICU, Sycamore Shoals Hospital, including a special nurse Cortni. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the cemetery at 1:50 p.m. Wednesday. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Cole family.