Ballard J. Cole, 86, of Tekonsha passed away Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Villa at Winston Court in Marshall, surrounded by his family.
A celebration of Ballard’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Lighthouse of Tekonsha, 616 N. Main Street, Tekonsha, MI 49092, with Pastor Bill Cole officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha.
Visitation will also take place on Thursday from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Lighthouse of Tekonsha.
The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation.
Ballard was born on March 10, 1937, to Troy and Bertha (Sparks) Cole in Salyersville, Kentucky. In 1948 the Cole family moved to Tekonsha, where Ballard resided for the remainder of his life. On May 28, 1954, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Jo Briegel and together they shared 69 years of marriage.
Ballard worked for the Battle Creek City Police Department, where he worked his way to being an investigator, retiring in the early 1990’s.
He enjoyed hunting (especially raccoons), fishing, traveling the country in their RV, logging, cutting wood, gardening, dancing, racing at Butler Motor Speedway, but most of all he loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Mary, he is survived by his son Craig (Judy) Cole of Ceresco; his grandchildren, Jonathon (Jamie) Cole of East Leroy, Corey Cole of Homer, and Laici Anderson of Trenton, NC; his great grandchildren, Casen, Kyle, Alexis, Makayla, Emmy, Cole, Jacob, and Hailea. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial Contributions for the Battle Creek Police Department with checks made payable to BCCF/PDLAW and mailed to Battle Creek Community Foundation, 32 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 1, Battle Creek, MI, 49017., https://bccfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1846 or to Fresenius Kidney Care Coldwater, 360 East Chicago Street, Ste 112, Coldwater, MI, 49036, or to Oaklawn Hospice, 13444 Preston Dr, Marshall, MI, 49068
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