Milton Ray "M.R." Cole

Milton Ray “ M.R.” Cole, Sr, age 91, of Pascagoula passed away peacefully on Friday, May 15, 2026, at his residence.  He was born on August 18, 1934, in Purvis, Mississippi to Joe N. Cole and Lorena Mae Nichols Cole.  He graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1953 and attended Perkinson Junior College and N. E. Louisiana St. in Monroe, Louisiana playing football.

Mr. Cole served in the United States Army and National Guard for eleven years.  He was the owner and operator of Coast Contract Services Inc. since 1964.  M.R. served as School Board Member of Pascagoula School District for 25 years and was a former Jackson County Sheriff Deputy Volunteer.

He was a collector of Old Electric Lionel Trains and former member of the Magnolia Classic Cruisers Club.  Ray was a faithful member of the First Bank in Pascagoula Coffee Club.

Mr. Cole was an avid football Fan and was the Play- by- Play announcer for Pascagoula Football for many years.  He enjoyed supporting and attending the games his sons and grandsons through the years as they played in many different sports in high school and college.

He will be remembered as a gentle and kindhearted man that loved his family and supported his community and friends.

He is preceded in death by his son, Robert A. “Bo Bo” Cole, Sr.; three brothers and one sister, Joe D. Cole, Sr., Charlie Cole, Sylton Cole, Emma Rae Apker.

Ray is survived by his loving and supportive wife of 65 years, Ellen Northrop Cole, Pascagoula; son, Milton R. “Hoppy” Cole, Jr. (Cindy), Ellisville, MS; daughter-in-law, Shannon Cole, Pascagoula; grandchildren, Milton R. Cole, III (Amber), Ellisville, MS; Andrew  G. Cole (Casey), Ellisville, MS; Mark Ryan Cole (Ashley), Pascagoula; Robert Allen “Hunter” Cole, Jr., Pascagoula; Dusty Farrish (Brittany), and Ketih Farrish; great grandchildren, Emma Claire Cole, Evvi Cate Cole, Vivian Ruth Cole, Sutter Cole, Brynn Cole, Gunner Reeves, and Jhett Pugh; numerous other relatives and great friends.

Visitation will be Monday, May 18, 2026, 6:00-8:00pm, at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula.  Funeral Service will be Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1:00pm, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Pascagoula.  Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers, Wounded Warriers, or Pascagoula Quarter Back Club. Active Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Milton Cole, Andrew Cole, Mark Cole, Hunter Cole, Dusty Farrish, and Keith Farrish; Honorary Pallbearers will be Walter Randall and Harold Tillman. 
 

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Home Instead caretakers, Rita Seales, and Chandler Reynolds for their help.   

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