Larry Wayne Cole was born on October 30, 1952, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Lecil Elmo Lee Cole and Phyllis Joy (Nance) Cole.
He grew up, alongside his sister Lecilia, on a 20-acre farm in Shawnee, in a home that their Great Grandpa Kint, Grandpa Nance, and their daddy built together. They moved to Tulsa in March of 1963, but just couldn’t stay away from Shawnee and moved back in 1965.
Larry’s first job was at the Brown Derby burger joint in his hometown, which is still in business today. While working there, he managed to save up enough money for his first motorcycle, which his mom had a hard time allowing him to ride; however, on which his sister would occasionally sneak away on to learn how to drive.
After graduating in 1970 from Shawnee High School, Larry was drafted by the military, into the Army, and was stationed in Bologna, Italy, for two years. He acquired a job at Tinker Air Force Base where he worked on airplanes and retired in 2008.
Larry loved riding motorcycles, watching old westerns, and listening to music from the 50’s. He took his family on yearly vacations while the kids were growing up. On top of those trips, they would go camping at his property in Bengal, Oklahoma, which they fondly call “The 30 Acres,” at least one or two times a year. He continued the tradition with his children and grandchildren, a tradition that his children plan to keep with their own children. He enjoyed exploring public hunting land with his friends and family and would sometimes almost get them stuck in weird places out in the middle of nowhere. By his side over the last 20 years, through all his adventures, was his darling wife, Cheryl. Everyone who knew him knew that he had a big heart and truly loved helping others. He was a privilege and a blessing to know.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Lecil Elmo Lee Cole; mother, Phillis Joy (Nance) Cole; and precious daughter, Jessica Dawn Cole.
Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife, Cheryl Cole; sons, Charles Cole and his wife, Samantha, and Lecil Cole and his wife, Elizabeth. Larry was also blessed to acquire children through his marriage to Cheryl: son, Keneth Boyle; son, David Boyle and his wife, Darleen; daughter, Blair Rule and her husband, Marshal; daughter, Candice Randall and her husband, Ronnie, and son, Paul Boyle. As well as eighteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Larry passed on from this life, to be with his heavenly Father, on Friday, October 6
th
, at the age of 70 years old.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the First Baptist Church, 2185 Church Avenue, Harrah, Oklahoma 73045.