Bonham, Texas -- Graveside services for Loyd O'Neal Cole, 85, of Bonham, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 12, 2021 in Willow Wild Cemetery under the direction of Wise Funeral Home.  Loyd passed away early Friday morning, Sept. 10, 2021 at his residence following a long courageous battle with lung cancer.

Loyd was born Sept. 21, 1935 in Middleton, Tennessee, the son of O’Neal Cole and Louise Russell Cole.  He married the love of his life, Betty Ruth Covington on August 24, 1954 in Paris, Texas, and they recently celebrated 67 years of marriage. 

Loyd retired from the maintenance department at General Cable after 39 years of service.  He was an avid country music and bluegrass fan and loved playing the piano.  He also enjoyed making walking canes from Bois d’Arc wood and raising cattle. 

Loyd was a member of Boyd Baptist Church and a longtime member of the Bonham Lions Club.   He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Lance Reed Cole (2002) and a brother, Joe Cole.

Loyd leaves behind to cherish his memories, his beloved wife, Betty Cole, son, Steven Cole and his wife, Sherry, and his only granddaughter, Meghan Cole Cryer and two great grandchildren, Dakota Cryer and Preston Cryer.  Also surviving are two sisters, Sue Bowden and husband, Orlis and Linda Flippen, and a brother, Danny Cole and wife, Jency, all of Paris, TX; numerous nieces, nephews, extend family and friends and two sisters-in-law, Mamie Gay of Amarillo and Barba McCarty of Paris, TX and a niece, Destiny Brown and Kurt of Seminole, OK and their children, Kameron and Delaney.

Memorials may be made to the Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th St., Bonham, TX 75418.

Online guest register www.wisefuneralhome.com