C.E. “Sonny” Cole

Funeral service for Clarence Edward ‘Sonny’ Cole, age 89, of Saint Jo will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2019, at Church of Christ in Saint Jo. Private burial to follow.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, at Church of Christ in Saint Jo. Mr. Cole passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2019.
Sonny is survived by daughters: Judy and husband Charlie Taylor of Saint Jo, and Becky Smith of Saint Jo; sons: Mike and wife Lynetta Cole of Alvord, and Tim and wife Sherry Cole of Fort Worth; 13 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and brother-in-law: Melvin ‘Snooks’ Dunn.
Sonny is preceded in death by wife: Eddie ‘Dee’ (Dunn) Cole; parents: John Henry and Vera Cole; son-in-law: Ricky Smith; and sisters: Ola Mae Simpson, Nola Van Duxen, Jean Reed, and Wanda Talley.

Sonny and Dee were the long-time publishers of the Saint Jo Tribune while he served as minister of the Saint Jo Church of Christ. They were a driving force behind the decades long operation of the Saint Jo Opry.