Kathryn A. Cole

Ovid- Kathryn Anne (Phillips) Cole of Rural Markleville, witnessing to an active family, church, school and community life, while living with metastatic breast Cancer, freely returned her Spirit and life to Her God the Creator of all life, on July 21, 2016.

Kathy was born May 23, 1942 in Indianapolis to Henry Newton Phillips and Sarah Helen (Dickey) Phillips, now deceased. She and her siblings, Henry Newton and Beverly Sue lived for a time in Portsmouth, Ohio. In Kathy’s early childhood, the family moved to the family farm near Rigdon,IN. Kathy graduated from Wendell Willkie High School, class of 1960, in Elwood and Ball State University in 1964. Kathy married Ronald Leo Cole in St. Joseph Church in Elwood on August 21, 1964.

Kathy taught middle school in Fairmount, St. Mary’s School in Anderson, and as a Missionary Teacher Aquinas College for the Diocese of Nassau, Bahamas during her first three years of marriage. After sending seven children off to school, Kathy returned to teaching as the Enrichment Kindergarten Teacher at St. Ambrose School in Anderson.

Kathy was a member of St. Ambrose Church where she was active in the Music Ministry. She was co-founder of the St. Ambrose Liturgical Guitar Group and led the weekly children’s liturgies. Kathy was a grant writer for the School securing multiple Lilly grants contributing to improvement of Science Education in the School. She became involved in Monarch Butterfly Habitat Reclamation through the creation of Monarch Way Stations. Monarch Way Stations were established in Madison, Delaware and Hamilton Counties through her effort. She raised, tagged and released, with the assistance of hundreds of children and adults, thousands of Monarch Butterflies for their journey to Mexico. For her Educational initiatives and effort to restore the Monarch Butterfly population, Kathy was named a Lilly Fellow. Kathy is also a Father Bierberg Fellow at St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, IN.

Kathy served as Co-Chair of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana Diocesan Pastoral Council’s Family Life Commission; a leader in the Cursillos de Christiandad for the Diocese of Nassau, Bahamas, and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; and a Center Team Leader for Christ RENEWS His Parish for the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 52 years, Ronald Leo Cole; sons, Thomas Andrew of Cumberland, IN., Joel Michael (Sabine) of Cicero, John Derek of Noblesville; and daughters, Melba Anne Jackson of Anderson, Amber Marie Dunaway of McCordsville, Erin Sue Cole of Chicago, IL. And Ronna Carol (Ronald) Keffer of Alexandria. Also grandchildren, Danielle Chavis, Samantha Thornburg, Paysen Cole, Ronald Keffer, Mary Ivory Jackson, Jacksen Cole, Ronald Jackson, Kynlie Keffer, Harlanne Keffer; great grandchild, Elijah Smith and extended family of Derek Chavis, Jerry Thornburg, Emily Cole and Bradley Jackson. She is survived by her brother, Henry Newton (Vicki) of Port Charlotte, FL; and her sister, Beverly Sue (David) Thomas of Roacheport, MO; her aunts, Mary Ellen Hickner, Barbara Hickner, Rita Cole, Janice Cole Shively and many nephews, nieces and cousins scattered throughout the United States.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 12:00 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2016 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Fr. Keith Hosey will preside. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Elwood, IN at 2:00 p.m.

Visitation will be 9:00-12:00 on Thursday at the church.

Memorial contributions can be made to Holy Cross School, in care of Kathryn A. Cole Memorial Science Fund: To the attention of Harriett Russel, 2801 Lincoln Street, Anderson, IN 46016.

Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory is handling the arrangements.