Robert Cole

Bob Cole, age 71, passed away Monday, October 26, 2020, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and will be laid to rest in the St. John Cemetery. Bob was born April 4, 1949, in Colfax, Wash., to Don and Lyla Stilson Cole who raised him on the family farm near Lancaster, Wash.

Bob was a life-long resident of St. John and attended school there where he was a star athlete. Bob continues to hold St. John's school record for the 400-meter dash with a remarkable time of 50.5 seconds and holds the record for the 800-meter relay which he achieved both in 1967. Not only was he incredible in track but he also played football and was avid in 4-H where he had a prize-winning hog. After he graduated from St. John High School in 1968, Bob married Jeanne Maughan and they made their home on the family farm and began raising a family of their own.

The Cole family enjoyed many outings to Williams Lake where they loved boating & water skiing. Bob was an avid skier and mastered the art of water skiing barefoot. As their daughters grew bigger, they began boating on the Spokane River and Lake Roosevelt. They would spend weeks at a time there and nicknamed their favorite spot "Bear Cove". Bob's daughters still go boating there and always talk about the great memories this place holds so dear to their hearts.

At 40 years old, Bob took up calf roping and the rodeo circuit. He loved traveling to the "old-timers" events in cities around Texas and Arizona. He had always wanted to be a cowboy, so he gave it a whirl. That would prove to be tough on his body and eventually settled for having several horses run free in the pasture on the ranch and let them live out their days in a happy place. Bob was also an expert marksman. He was an avid hunter and would go elk hunting in the Blue Mountains every year to bring meat home to the family. Bob also loved to go trap shooting at the St. John Gun Club with his trusty over/under 12 ga. shotgun. He was a long-standing member there and loved to "show up" those young guns he always used to say. Bob was also a very avid & skillfull golfer. Bob grew up farming and eventually retired in 2007.

Bob is survived by his two dearest daughters, Shelley Cole and Debbie Halterman both of St. John; his four grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Sheldon Cole, Kolten Cole, Ryan Halterman and Rachel Halterman. He was preceded in death by his parents.

There are no services planned at this time. The family would like to thank the St. John community for their sympathy and kindness during this difficult time. Donations can be made in his honor to the St. John Gun Club, PO Box 81, St. John, WA 99171.

On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com