J.I. "Perkey" Cole......88

Visitation 1-3pm Sunday August 31, 2014 at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
with Military Services at 3pm by The United States Army out of Fort Riley, Kansas

Jefferson I. “Perkey” Cole age 88 of Osawatomie, KS died Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, KS.

Perkey was born August 10, 1926 in Paola, KS to Sherman Reynolds Cole Sr. and Sadie Opal (Longmire) Cole.  He was the second of four children.

Perkey attended school in Paola but didn’t finish because he was drafted into the United States Army in December of 1944. He was stationed in Ft. Lewis Washington as a Light Machine Gunner.  Perkey was discharged in November of 1946.

When returning home Perkey met Dorothy L. Vielbig and they married July 5, 1950 in Paola, KS.  Together they had six children.  Dorothy died June 6, 1989, they would have celebrated their 39 ^th wedding anniversary the next month.

They made their home in Osawatomie and Perkey started working as a milkman.  He later went to work for the Osawatomie School District as a custodian.  He retired in 1990 after 18yrs with the school district.

Perkey was known for his jokes and stories.  He loved to hunt and fish with his son and grandson.  He worked on cars, rebuilding motors.  His favorite thing to do was cruise around and cause trouble.  Perkey liked to work, not only when he worked for the schools but also mowing yards and in the winter cutting wood.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy,  one brother , one sister,  one daughter Bonnie Kendrick ,one granddaughter Arlean Cole.

Perkey is survived by sons, Jefferson (Carol) P. Cole of Osawatomie, KS and Bobbie (Carolyn) L. Cole of Pleasanton, KS, daughters Donna Powell of Baker, MT, Jennifer McCoy and Tammy Morris of Osawatomie, KS, one sister Roberta Young of Fontana, KS, 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.