Eldon Cole

Eldon Cole of Mount Vernon died on April 17 of heart failure, encircled by family. While he lived a lifetime with a wonky cardiac rhythm inside, his was a caring and strong heart outside. Passed over during Selective Service registration in the early 1960s upon discovery of a heart murmur, his mother apologized, “I guess I didn’t put everything together quite right.” But actually, she put everything together just fine.

He was born Sept. 14, 1940, on the family farm near Potosi, to Willard LeClere Cole (1908 – 1986) and Mary Bollinger Cole (1906 – 2000), and was the younger brother of sister Genelle Cole (1935 – 2020). Eldon loved life on the farmstead, and began his animal work playing with a cardboard farm set, corralling sticks and branches that made up an imaginary cow herd, and running rabbits through the hollers with his favorite beagles. He attended elementary school and high school in Potosi where he balanced academics, school clubs, farm work, football and basketball.

He imagined operating the farm as an adult, but the family decided to sell in the early 1950s. Without a farm to take over, in 1958 he enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His dad wanted him to become a veterinarian, but he preferred to focus on healthy animals and production, and he completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal husbandry at MU. In February of 1964, Eldon began what would become a 58-year career with MU Extension, starting as a Balanced Farming Agent in Saline County based in Marshall, Mo.

During college, he was introduced to Charlotte DeEtte Godfrey of Columbia. They grew closer over time—even when she spent a year in Denver as a newly minted RN. She moved back to Missouri, and they married on Aug. 28, 1965, in Columbia. Their first three newlywed years were spent in Marshall and brought the first of four children. They then had the opportunity to relocate to Southwest Missouri for Eldon to focus on work with beef cattle producers as a livestock specialist for Lawrence and surrounding counties. In 1968, they moved to Mount Vernon and went about the business of life and work, gradually adding three more kids and raising a sometimes unruly but loving family.

Eldon didn’t pursue what he would consider hobbies, and instead, spent most of his time in some way serving others. He patiently and faithfully supported children and grandchildren (and the children of others) in sport, music and academic interests. No matter a season’s outcome, he cheered on Mount Vernon High School sports, was loyal to Mizzou football and basketball, and loved Cardinals baseball. He grew and gave away bushels of corn, beans, okra and tomatoes, raised rampant marigolds and zinnias, and hand-cranked hundreds of gallons of ice cream over dozens of summers. And he happily and generously contributed time and talent to youth education in agriculture through 4-H and FFA, to his church community, and to agriculture through involvement with organizations like the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and its Southwest chapter.

When someone tells you that they really love their work, it can sound suspiciously forced; but when Eldon Cole said it, it was sincere. His impact will quietly persist as it did in life through his work with programs like the Missouri On-Farm Performance Testing Program, Southwest Missouri All-Breed Performance Tested Bull Sale, Missouri Steer Feedout, and the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program, which he helped launch.

Eldon’s memory lives on through countless friends and colleagues, and through his family: wife Charlotte of Mt. Vernon; son Scott Cole and husband Tim Owens of Kansas City, Mo.; daughter Deanna McElveen and husband Randy of Mt. Vernon, granddaughter Kayleigh McElveen and fiancé Cody Schultz of Lincoln, Nebr., and granddaughter Amelia McElveen of Austin, Texas; son Brian Cole and wife Melissa, grandsons Riley and Alan, and granddaughter Leyla, all of Columbia; and daughter Kelly Warzinik and husband Jason, and granddaughters Zoe and Sadie, also of Columbia.

Memorial contributions can be considered for any of the organizations with missions that were near to Eldon’s heart, including First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, the University of Missouri Southwest Research, Extension & Education Center, the University of Missouri Livestock Judging Team, and the Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association scholarship fund.

To celebrate and honor his life, an informal gathering was held Friday evening, April 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the University of Missouri Southwest Research, Extension & Education Center, Mount Vernon. Funeral service was Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at the Mount Vernon First Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will take place at Ozark Prairie Presbyterian “Brick” Church in June.

Eldon’s brow would wrinkle about now at the mere idea of publishing so many words focused on him. A genuinely humble person, those who knew him probably noticed his typical choice of “we” instead of “I”. He credited others first, but had an understated and profound impact on many. A yellow legal pad and ever-sharp pencil symbolized Eldon, and his signature move was sly dry wit—imperceptible if you weren’t paying close attention. It probably came from his mom (who really did put everything together just fine) and his children and grandchildren hope they can continue that legacy.

Arrangements are under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home. www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com