Joseph L. (Joey) Cole, 67, of Placida passed away Monday at his home surrounded by his loving family. H
Born Sept. 14, 1944, in Arcadia to Ralph M. Cole Sr. and Ethel Cole, he proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he used welding skills to repair ships and helicopters on base. At the end of his tour, he returned to Placida to once again take up commercial fishing.
Fishing was not just a way to make a living for the man everyone knew as Joey, it was who he was. Fishing values were instilled at a very young age by his father from generations of family fisherman who preceded him. Joey was proud of his heritage and anyone who knew him knew all about this way of life through his many stories and the photo collection proudly displayed in his home.
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Joseph L. (Joey) Cole, 67, of Placida
He was happiest when on the water pursuing stone crabs locally and in the Florida Keys, shrimping, and for a fiddler bait business that provided fiddler crabs to New York. But his passion was mullet fishing.
He loved traveling with his wife, Martha, and enjoyed hunting, but family was most important. He was so proud of his daughter, Bobbie Jo Weese, and his four grandchildren. His only grandson (Joseph) is enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His three granddaughters meant the world to him. His two great-grandsons will learn about him through the eyes of all left behind. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Martha Cole; one daughter, Bobbie Jo (Jerry) Weese; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Joan Hayes, Ralph Martin Cole Jr. and Ronald L. Cole.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Suncoast Worship Center in Englewood. Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral home and Cremation Services.
Memorial donations can be made to Tidewell Hospice. Express condolences to the family at lemonbayfh.com.
