Kermit Calvin Cole

Kermit Calvin Cole (K.C)- loving husband, father, grandfather and lifelong educator, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Edmonds, WA following an extended illness. K. C. Cole, son of Arden and Lydia Cole, was born in Darby, Montana in March, 1926. After graduation from Darby High School, he was a member of the U. S. Air Force for two years as an aerial photographer. During his early college years, he worked for the U. S. Forest Service as a smokejumper based in Missoula, MT. He graduated from Western Montana College in Elementary Education- went on to get his Masters degree from the University of Montana and his Doctorate from Wayne State University (Michigan) on a C.S. Mott fellowship. Dr. Coles career in Education started in a rural school in Idaho as a teacher (gr. 5-8) and progressed to Elementary Principal in four school systems in Montana and finally retiring in 1986 from Central Elementary in Flushing, Michigan. He also served a four year stint as the Supervisor of Elementary Education for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. K.C. is survived by his wife, Jacquie of Edmonds, WA, and two children, Caroline (Keith) Obert of Helena, MT, Troy (Gina) Thomas of Brier, WA, a sister, Elaine Bailey of Coeur d Alene, ID, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five sister, one brother, and two sons, Jeff and Greg. K.C. enjoyed sailing, skiing, tennis, dancing, golf, camping, traveling, hot-air ballooning, reading, and a spirited discussion of educational philosophy.K.C. was a member of the school administrators associations in Montana and Michigan, Toastmasters International, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Leland United Methodist Church.