Russel Cole
1912-1999
Russel Cole was born on August 3, 1912. He loved his family and the town of Carrollton. Carrollton was his only home until his death on Sunday, June 13, 1999. This town was the center of his life's activites as a husband, father, grandfather, businessman, and friend. Russel died in his home-as we know he would have wished.
In 1930,Russel Cole, a young man of 18, just out of high school, opened a business here in Carrollton.Russel began his business during the depression. In time he was joined by his brother Henry, and together they made the tavern an extraodinary "ordinary"-a tavern which became a Carrollton institution by the time it closed in 1987.
The building is gone-the place is not marked-but Coley's too has its memorial.You are there, the web page for Coley's Stag. This site serves as a means of communications for those who value the time they spent with Russel and Henry, and with each other.
When you visit the Reunion page you will learn that the reunion for 1999 is the day after Thanksgiving from 11AM until 11PM. The theme is "69 and Still Going Strong".
Why and how does a bar generate such loyalty 12 years after it shut down? Why are there reunions for what is now a parking lot. The answer is simple-people generate loyalty, not places. Relationships are valued, not places. Memories are important, not places. And memories are portable-where they are shared is not important,but rather the spirit which causes people to want to come together to remember.
Russel saw the beauty of the natural world and gave it nurture. He planted the flowers that he no longer could see, for he took delight from the pleasure of sharing them with those who could see.
A visit with Russel always included stories about people. and the stories were seldom repeated - his life's experiences to a great degree were a history of Carrollton for the 20th century. To many he was the last link to a time gone by. These tales always noted the unique and special qualities of the individuals involved. It seemed that Russel never met anyone who was not "interesting", and that is because he was interested in everyone.
Some of Russel's senses had failed him in the past years - his vision was almost gone, his hearing was impaired, and he wasn't always steady on his feet - but his sense of humor remained strong and intact until the end. He saw the humor of the human condition, accepted our mutal limitations, and remaned optimistic about the future.
The press reports at the time of Coley's closing noted the male youth of Carrollton either learned their manners there, or had those lessons reinforced. And those lessons were handed down from one generation to another within the family as well. He expected every young person to be responsible, to be thoughtful, and to be respectful of others. These standards were not for his comfort, whether at home or at the Stag, but were for the benefit of the youth he influenced. He was a mentor to generations.
Russell was thoughtful and generous. He valued people. You would say that he was a "people person". Daily contact with the public was his life for almost 60 years. He enjoyed knowing others because he was curious about everything, and left no encounter without some new information.
One of Russel's favorite pieces of advice was:"Have a good time when you're young - and then when you are old you'll still have those memories". Henry and Russel are gone, but as long as relationships are important they will be with us, and as long as people gather to share with each other, Coley's will live on. Our good times with Russel are done, but he was right - we will always have the memories.
The above remembrances are an abridged version of the Eulogy
written and given by K. William Bailey, Russel's son-in-law, at his funeral.
