Bishop Funeral Home
Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice

Dessa Lou (Cearley) Cole, 92 of Kiowa died December 31, 2024 in McAlester. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Cornerstone Church (formerly Kiowa Methodist Church) in Kiowa, officiated by Rev. Jim Ray. Burial will follow in Kiowa Cemetery. Dessa was born to Simeon "Sim" Martin Cearley and Aretta Nancy (Stites) Cearley on November 21, 1932 in Wesley, Oklahoma. Dessa grew up in rural Southeast Oklahoma with her four siblings and graduated from Kiowa High School and then business school in Dallas, Texas. She married Robert "Bob" Francis Cole in 1956. Since Bob was a Marine, Dessa and Bob began raising their family at military bases around the United States. They later settled in Watertown, NY, near Bob's family and lived there several years. Bob preceded her in death in 1983. Dessa moved home to be near her family in Kiowa and worked in the personnel department at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant for almost 20 years. In retirement she volunteered at the Kiowa Library. Dessa was an active member of the Kiowa United Methodist Church (now Cornerstone Church) for many years, helping with various service roles and hosting a ladies' Bible study in her home until November 2024. Dessa was an avid reader, with an extensive library in her home. She was a skilled seamstress and enjoyed creative projects such as quilting, crochet and painting. She was known to be resourceful, repairing things in her house herself into her 90's. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and other family members, especially playing a rousing game of Uno or Scrabble. Dessa was welcoming and kind, enjoying visiting and kidding with people and sometimes a spirited debate. She was wise, courageous and irrepressible-leaving a beautiful stamp on the hearts of those who knew her, she will be missed by many. Dessa was preceded in death by her parents, Simeon "Sim" Cearley and Aretta Cearley; husband, Bob Cole; son, Robert "Rob" Sim Cole; brothers, Dan Cearley, Chuck Cearley; and sister, Florene "Flo" Hill. Dessa is survived by her daughters, Susan Marra and husband, David of Oceanside, California, Nancy Cole of Stuart, Florida; son, Richard Cole of Kiowa; four grandchildren, Sarah Louderback (Baile), Tori Weeks (Austin), Emiley Stechmiller (Ben), Robert Ian Cole; brother, Clem Cearley (Carolyn);two sisters-in-law, Mary Cearley and Bobbie Cearley; niece, Traci Hill; nephew, Bob Hill; and many other family members and friends.

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