Arthur W. (Art) Cole, 76, died Thursday, September 14, 2017 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri at Saint Andrew Lutheran church. He was born June 7, 1941 in Tallapoosa, Missouri to James and Ermer Cole. They proceeded ham in death along with three brothers, John Cole, Edgar Cole and Purvus Cole and one sister Selma Shaw. 

Art was married to Dora Opalewski on December 27, 1969. To this union was born one daughter Annie Cole; One grandson Joseph (Joey) Mullins of Republic, Missouri.

Art graduated in 1959 from Gideon high school, Southeast Missouri State University in 1962, University of Missouri in 1965 and received a Ford foundation grant to attend graduate school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1968.

Art voluntarily served in the Vietnam conflict and joined the Missouri National Guard upon return. He was deployed to Desert Storm in 1991 and retired in 2001 

He was a high school teacher and subsequently moved to the Poplar Bluff regional center and retired from the Department of mental health in 2003.

Art was a dedicated worker for the Democratic Party. He served as chair of the congressional district and the 153rd Senate District as well as the committeeman for the fourth Ward in Poplar Bluff. He worked tirelessly to try to make life better for every person in the state. His favorite was mentoring young people to reach their dreams. Many times he passed up the spot light to shine the light on someone else or to push them closer to their dream. He was loved and respected my family and friends. 

Also surviving are three nieces; Ava King of St. Louis, Eleanor Metcalf of Pontiac, Michigan, and Julie Gordon of Troy, Michigan; one nephew David Cole of Ault, Colorado; two grand-nephews John Devault of St. Louis and Byran Metcalf of Pontiac Michigan.

Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 9 o'clock Monday September 18th, 2017 at the Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will be conducted Tuesday, September 19, 2017 starting at 10:00 AM also at Saint Andrews Lutheran Church.

Interment will follow in the veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Morgan Sifford funeral home of Puxico, Missouri has been entrusted with the arrangements.