Caroline Sue Cole

Caroline Sue Cole was born July 3,1939 in Gore, Ok. to Celia Ellen and Edwin Perry Ashcraft. She died Feb. 12, 2015 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City. Caroline was raised in Clinton and graduated in 1957 from Clinton High School. She received her Bachelor of Science in 1961 from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In 1962 she attended Central State in Edmond where she completed her continuing education for teacher certification requirements. In 1970 she also attended classes to complete her masters degree at San Antonio College in San Antonio, Tx. Her first teaching position was in 1963 at the newly built Roosevelt Junior High School in Oklahoma City. She also taught secondary classes in Texas. In 1976 she began her career with the Clinton Public School System. She taught seventh and eighth grade science at Clinton Junior High. She was well known for her mandatory class project: the "infamous" bug collection. Students were required to extensively collect and display indigenous insects. Her students fondly called her the "bug lady." She retired from teaching after 27 years. During this time Caroline also operated the Clinton Public Swimming Pool and Miniature Golf Course for nearly 10 years. She also worked at the Clinton Liquor Store for nearly 15years. After retirement Caroline worked with CASA and the census bureau. One of her most prized positions was working with troubled youth in the COPNET program sponsored by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. In 2009 she received an award from the Bureau for "outstanding performance and lasting contributions to the program." Another one of Caroline's favorite pastimes was playing cards every Wednesday with lifelong friends. Caroline was also active in "Celebrate Recovery" sponsored by the Church of Christ where she was an active member. Caroline was preceded in death by her father, Edwin Perry Ashcraft; mother, Celia Ellen Dancer and step-father Johnny Dancer; stepsister and stepbrother Doris Snyder and Melvin Dancer; granddaughter, Amanda Jo Spillman. She is survived by son Scott and wife Tammy of Seneca, Ks.; Tracie Spillman and Randy Moody of Clinton; Kathleen Cole of Greenforest, Ark. Grandchildren, Lacy Bergman and husband Eric of St. Benedict, Ks.; Lindsay Brydich of Seneca, Andrew Cole also of Seneca; Joel Spillman of Oklahoma City; Katie Spillman and Joey Kersey of Oklahoma City and Jacob Enz of Berryville, Arfl Honorary daughters Paula Jo Barrick of Clinton and Tina Turner of Greenforest, Ark.(And Honorary son Garland Brown. The service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., Feb. 14 at the Church of Christ in Clinton with, Pat Peters officiating. Services are under the direction of Troy Lee Funeral Home. J.T. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Clinton Education Foundation or CASA.