Glenda Ellen WHITEHEAD COLE

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

05-11-2011

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Glenda Ellen Cole died Sunday, May 8, 2011, on her 96th birthday. She was born May 8, 1915, in the Kremlin-Hillsdale area to George Franklin Whitehead and Georgia Ellen Hennis Whitehead. Glenda was the youngest of four children: Veda Goldie Maxey and Kenneth Howard Whitehead preceded her in death. Viola May Dustin of Perkins still survives.

She graduated from Enid High School in 1935 and married Harold Lee Cole on Jan. 20, 1936. They moved to Cherokee in 1938. Together they opened Cole's Nursery and soon after funeral directors appealed to them to put in a flower shop so the townspeople wouldn't have to go to Kansas to get fresh flowers. The flower shop began in the basement and later moved to the present shop and became Cole's Flowers, they owned the shop until 1972. Her husband, Harold Cole, passed away Nov. 2, 1980.

Glenda was able to celebrate the shop's 50th anniversary in 1988 and she continued to work at the flower shop until her move to Golden Oaks Village in 2002. She was a member of First Christian Church in Cherokee. She loved to paint and design all things beautiful. Glenda was a volunteer at Alfalfa County Hospital. She enjoyed playing cards and was a member of many clubs, including Mother's Self Culture Club. She also was a 50-year member of Eastern Star. Glenda lived her life with much joy and love, she will be missed dearly by all that knew her.

Glenda is survived by her daughter, Ellen Kay McCracken of Enid; her son, George H. Cole and wife Becky Cole of Cherokee; her granddaughter, Aimee McCracken of Yukon; and a dear family friend, A.J. Petree of Enid

Burial will be 3 p.m. today, May 12, 2011, in Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of her life will follow at 4 p.m. at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. Pastor Tom Cooksey will officiate.

Because we knew you ... we have been changed for good!