Funeral services for Vernon Augustus Cole, age 71, of Branson, Mo., will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at Victor Baptist Church in Branson with the Rev. Kenny Robinette and the Rev. Sam Kaunley officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Arrange-ments are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Mo.
He died at his home on Saturday, April 24 (2010).
He was born on Aug. 9, 1938, in Zinc, the son of Vernon and Gertrude Jones Cole. He had been a resident of the area since 1968. Vernon was employed with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department from 1960 until 1964. He became a Missouri State Highway Patrolman in 1965 until his retirement in 1993. He was a U.S. Marine veteran and was an instructor of escape-evasion-survival training. He was of the Protestant faith.
Survivors are his wife, Paula Medlock Cole of the home; four sons, Randy Cole and wife, Regina of Branson, Mo., Gregg Cole and wife, Kelly of Springfield, Mo., Jeffrey Johns and wife, Tracey of Rogersville, Mo. and Tyler Johns and wife, Cheryl of Yucca Valley, Calif.; one brother, Cletus Cole of Springfield, Mo.; one sister, Verna Henderson of Lead Hill; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, William Cole.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Victor Baptist Church at Branson, Mo. Memorial contributions are suggested to the St. Jude’s Crippled Childrens Hospital.
