SONDRA COLE

Services for Sondra Lee Lackey Cole of Oklahoma City, formerly of El Reno and Ada are 10:00 a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Ada. Dr. Pat Kilby will officiate. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday at the El Reno Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada.

Sondra Lee Lackey Cole was born on April 10, 1938 to Thomas & Lois Lackey at the rural home of her grandparents in Pittsburg County, OK. She left this world for Heaven on December 1, 2011 at the age of 73.

She is survived by her sons Dr. Brent Cole and wife Cindy of Coppell, TX; Page Cole and wife Ronda of Owasso, OK; Dr. Rhys Cole and wife Debra of El Reno, OK; Wade Cole and wife Kecia of Oklahoma City, OK; and Drew Cole and wife Jami of Duncan, OK; 11 grandchildren- Brycen, Erin, Nathan, Benjamin, Jarrod, Kail, Kort, Londyn, Fallyn, Cody & Keely. She is also survived by her sister Gerry Sheppard of OKC, OK; two brothers, Tom & Sharon Lackey of McAlester, OK, and Kevin & Dee Lackey of Skiatook, OK; in-laws Arla & Shirley Cole of Haywood, OK; Don & Rheta Mankin of Grapevine, TX; Ouilda Owen of Springtown, TX; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and her puppy Lolly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name to the Bill & Sondra Cole Scholarship Fund, at East Central University, P. O. Box Y-8, Ada, OK 74821 or to the FBC Ada Falls Creek Cabin fund, First Baptist Church, 521 S. Broadway, Ada, OK 74820.

As a child she lived in the desert, mountain and Bay areas in California, returning to Eastern Oklahoma in 1949. In her lifetime, her accomplishments were broad and extraordinary. Sondra served in a variety of roles for many campus organizations and events during the tenure of her husband Bill as president at East Central State University in Ada, OK, and at Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK. Until her recent move to Oklahoma City, Sondra had been an active member of First Baptist Church, Ada, OK where she taught Sunday School for 22 years. She was the church pianist and Sunday School teacher at Amity Baptist Church in El Reno, OK for many years. Sondra's life was characterized by her servant's heart. She was a "mom" to many kids as she served for years as a Den Mother in Cub Scouts and for others that showed up on her front porch or at her kitchen table and needed love and guidance. She served at the local school and state levels of Parents Teachers Association. She founded the Joy Store in El Reno, a non-profit endeavor to assist underprivileged families during Christmas. She was appointed by Governor George Nigh to fill a vacated term as County Commissioner of District 1 in Canadian County, Oklahoma, and was elected to serve another full term in this role. She hosted her own radio talk show while living in El Reno. She was instrumental in the development of the Youth and Family Services in El Reno, serving as the president of their Board of Directors for several terms. She loved working and serving in her church, and in areas that helped children and benefited her community, but paramount in her life was her family. She raised five sons who all graduated college with Bachelor's and post graduate degrees. However, her greatest joy in life was the love of her life of 53 years, her husband Dr. Bill Cole, who preceded her in death in 2010. Her death is a joyful reunion with him, with her parents, and with her savior Jesus Christ.

Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada