Willis Quinten Cole, 90, of Springfield, Mo., passed away Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. He was born March 1, 1933, to Lee and Lessie Cole in Danville, Ill. Quinten married Garnet Bennett in Weippe, Idaho, in October of 1956. Quinten was a graduate of Colorado State University. After college he became a professional forester with the US Forest Service. He was one of the youngest forest rangers and spent many years fighting forest fires. He worked in Idaho, Arizona, California, New Mexico and Arkansas. He spent over 30 years with the US Forest Service before his retirement in 1988. He was also the owner of Cole’s Tree Farm in Lebanon, Mo. He operated the Christmas Tree Farm for 50 years. Planting and raising Christmas trees was his life’s passion. After retirement Quinten spent time helping others as a volunteer firefighter and builder with Habitat for Humanity. Quinten was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Elvin and Zane Cole, his wife Garnet Cole and his son Lance Cole. He is survived by his second wife, Bernice Cole; brother, Alex Cole and sister-in-law, Mary Cole; daughters, Earlene Cole and fiancé, Jerry Flassig, Charlene Standridge and son-in-law, Gary Standridge; grandchildren, Jamie Thomas and husband Jeremy Thomas, Quintana Garcia, Dustin Cole and wife, Stephanie Cole, Dominique Cole, Lauren Standridge and fiancé, Ramon Gochi; great-grandchildren Avery Thomas, Emery Thomas, Braedyn Cole, Brooklyn Cole and Emma Cole; three nieces and one nephew; and special friends, Emily and Kevin Magers. A private family memorial will be held in the fall. Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield handled the arrangements.
