Cole Family Association

06/07/2026

Frontier Days on May 30th was rainy. But we met new people and will do things in the future. Wayne Lammers Fort presentation was well attended at the vistor center.

05/24/2026

May 2026 Cole Family Newsletter

05/23/2026

05/14/2026

Does anyone have the capability to do videos at the Reunion? We thought we mind record family stories. Let us Know!

05/10/2026

Today, we celebrate the mothers, grandmothers, and strong women who helped shape our communities and our history. Here in Boonville, one of those remarkable women was Hannah Cole.

Widowed and raising nine children, Hannah Cole arrived on the banks of the Missouri River with determination and resilience. She became the first woman in Missouri to receive a business license to operate a ferry across the Missouri River between Boonville and Franklin, helping establish the connection that would grow into the community we know today.

As the matriarch remembered as Boonville’s founder, her courage and perseverance continue to inspire us generations later.

Happy Mother’s Day from the Friends of Historic Boonville as we honor the women whose strength built homes, families, and communities.

05/10/2026

🎨👩‍🎨Heritage Days is right around the corner! We can’t wait to see what our talented community has been up to this past year. All submissions can be dropped off at the Old Cooper County Jail. 🎨👨‍🎨

05/10/2026

May 9th, 2026, the Hannah Cole Chapter, NSDAR held a memorial Wreath Laying at their namesake statue and at the Courthouse Lawn monuments in Boonville, Mo.

05/08/2026

Please join us Saturday, May 9th at 10:30- Tomorrow!
Cole Family Genealogist, Ray Owens will be speaking on Halbert Allison's Revolutionary War Service at the Hannah Cole Chapter, NSDAR Wreath Laying at Hannah's statue in downtown Boonville.

02/13/2026

Announcing the 2026 Scholarship Program

By colefamilyassociation on February 12, 2026
The Cole Family Association will award a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior who is related to Hannah Allison Cole, maintains a 3.2 GPA, and will be enrolled full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or trade school.

Since 2008 The Cole Family Association has offered an annual Scholarship to a Cole Family member. The funds are accumulated through donations. The Scholarship is a tool to reach young family members to develop their interest in our ancestors.

The Application form is linked below. Applications for the 2026 Scholarship must be postmarked by May 1, 2026 and should be mailed to:

Bob Painter
12802 NE Mount Olivet Rd.
Kansas City, MO. 64166

2026 Cole Association Scholarship Application

01/22/2026

We today received the mail copy of Elsie Workman's Newsletter with "Deceased" written on it. We are sad for this news.

In Loving Memory of Elsie Cole Workman

A Life of Grace and Devotion

Elsie Cole Workman, born April 24, 1929, in Bunceton, Missouri, lived a long and meaningful life marked by kindness, creativity, and steadfast faith. She passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025, in Valdosta, Georgia, at the age of 96.

Early Life

Elsie was the daughter of James A. Cole and Velma Belle Hurt Cole. Her Missouri roots shaped her values of hard work, family loyalty, and quiet resilience.

Family

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon Dale Workman. She is lovingly remembered by:

Son and daughter-in-law: Jim and Nancy Workman of Valdosta, Georgia

Grandson and wife: Jason and Elizabeth Giddens of Pooler, Georgia

Great-granddaughters: Claire and Caroline Giddens

Work and Community

Elsie spent her career in customer service at Sears Department Store, where she was known for her warm presence and reliability. She was a devoted member of Park Avenue Church. Her creativity shone through in her handcrafted doll clothes, lovingly made each year for the church’s Christmas bazaar.

Final Arrangements

Elsie was cremated in accordance with her wishes. No local services were scheduled. Her family invites those who knew her to share memories and condolences through Carson McLane Funeral & Cremation Services.

Legacy

Elsie leaves behind a legacy of gentleness, creativity, and devotion to family. Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.