The Richmond News, July 25, 2025

Jerry Cole of Blue Springs went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 18, 2025, at his home. Jerry was born June 3, 1932, in Gravity, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Joreen McColm of Gravity on Aug. 17, 1953. They were married for 71 years. Jerry graduated from Northwest Missouri State College, where he played football for the Bearcats. During his college years, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

He was a member of the 1952 football team that was inducted in 1990 into the Northwest Missouri State Hall of Fame.

In 1957, Jerry moved to Richmond to teach industrial arts at the high school. He also coached basketball and football, touching the lives of many students. He was inducted in 2012 into the Richmond Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jerry retired in 1986 after 30 years of teaching and coaching. His favorite things in retirement were making furniture, home improvements, watching his grandkids play sports and keeping up with all sports – high school, college, the Royals and Chiefs.

He will be missed by his family, many friends and dog, Baxter.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Cole, of the home; son, Jedd Cole and wife Sharon of Blue Springs, and their three daughters, Sara (Jordan) Bles, Lauren (Mike) Hurt and Anna Cole, also of Blue Springs. Other survivors include his daughter, Jane and husband Corry Maguire of Orlando, Fla., and their two children, daughter Abby Maguire of Arcata, Calif., and son Cole (Deidre) Maguire of Paragould, Ark. He also is survived by his son, Jay and wife Amy Cole of Roach, and their three children, Chance (Ally) Cole of Smithville, Katie (Colby) Brown of Memphis, Mo., and Jack (Emma) Cole of Columbia.

In addition to his eight grandchildren, he was blessed with 14 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the United Methodist Church of Richmond or the Richmond R-XVI Athletic Department. They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home; 507 E. Main St.-P.O. Box 190; Richmond, MO 64085.

Visitation with memorial services will be held Monday, July 28, at the United Methodist Church in Richmond, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. and services to follow at 10:30. Inurnment will follow the services in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville.

Please share your memories of Jerry with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.