Obituary

Timothy Dale Cole was born February 18, 1966 in Gallatin, TN. He left this world on September 4, 2026. He was 60 years of age. He passed away in his home in Westmoreland, TN.

Tim was preceded in his death by parents, Roger and Betty Sue Cole, grandmothers Ella and Myrtle, and his great aunts Mickey and Pearl that he loved spending time with in Jackson County. He had an uncle Pee Wee that was a special part of his life that preceded him in death, along with his best friend and best man, Gary Jackson.

Tim leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Shelly Cole and the greatest person in his life, his one and only son, Alder Dale Cole. In his life he had a sister, Adrienne Ivory, several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews that he loved dearly that he also leaves behind. He has several friends that will miss him here and across the U.S. A very much loved and dear friend he leaves is Randy Langley. Tim would want his two best buddies to be listed as friends and family that were with him every day, and miss him dearly, Noki (his Miniature Donkey) and Jack (his Gander).

Gallatin, TN is Tim's hometown. He was a volunteer firefighter prior to starting his career in the United States Coast Guard on Mother's Day of 1986. He started his career in the U.S.C.G. Honor Guard in Alexandria, Virginia. He was very handsome in his uniform! He then went to Elizabeth City, NC for training (where he met Randy and they have been close friends since). He was later stationed in Elizabeth City. He worked on and flew on the Gulf Stream immediately after training. He then went on to work on C-130s (the big planes) as a dropmaster (the person that hangs out the back of the plane to drop supplies) and metalsmith. Later he went to school and became a flight engineer on the C-130. He also was trained for N.D.T. (take x-rays of the plane).

He was later stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. (This is Alder's birthplace). He completed his career as an instructor in Elizabeth City, NC. He retired after 24 years of active duty in 2010.

During his 24 years of active duty he was able to travel with the Coast Guard as well with Shelly and Alder and experience much of this world. He made several friends that were his family when his blood family were many miles away. He had a group of friends that he continued to call family.

After retirement from the U.S.C.G. he was to be a stay-at-home dad, however, he decided to work as a program director for Vector, CSP. (a veteran owned company that worked with the military).

He moved back to Tennessee in 2017 after 31 years and settled on "Cole's Mountain". He became the best farmer a wife and a farm full of animals could hope for. He was a man that could fix, design, and build anything. He was a man that a son and wife felt safer with him around. We knew that "all" would be ok, no matter what broke or went wrong. Through hurricanes, tropical storms or ice storms, if Tim was there, we knew we were ok. He was our protector. He took care of us and many others throughout his life.

When Tim was an instructor, he would check a student's work and then he would say "Press On". His students came to appreciate these words. Therefore, Alder and Shelly will "Press On" and continue our work here on Earth until it is time to meet him again.

Sellars Family Heritage at Gallatin, 100 E. Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin, TN37066. 615-452-7115. Obituary line 615-452-5900. Email:[email protected]. Website: familyheritageth.com