MONTE COLE Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon for Fairfield civic leader, businessman and former Mayor Monte Cole, 73, who died last week.

Since returning home to Fairfield from the Dallas area almost three decades ago, Mr. Cole served the community in a variety of elective and volunteer posts with a goal of improving his hometown.

He was elected to the first of three terms as mayor in 1986 as a writein candidate, taking the reins of a city government that had just $100,000 in the bank and putting the city on sound financial footing.

Mr. Cole served several years as a member of the Fairfield Hospital District board of directors, guiding improvements to the hospital in partnership with East Texas Medical Center, and currently was the board president.

Over the years he was president of the chamber of commerce, Fairfield Eagle Club and Fairfield Rotary Club, and was a member of the boards of Freestone Central Appraisal District and Fairfield Industrial Development Corporation.

In 1984, Mr. Cole was chosen by the chamber of commerce as its “Citizen of the Year.”

A member of First Baptist Church of Fairfield since 1981, he was instrumental in the design and construction of the church’s Christian Life Center, was regional director of the Texas Baptist Men’s Group and participated in the Lay Renewal.

Mr. Cole was born March 12, 1936, in Teague to G.C. and Margaret Young Cole and, as a businessman, owned more than 75 restaurants and convenience stores, eight of which were in Freestone county.

Funeral services were conducted at 3 p.m. at FBC with the Rev. Ken Pruitt, pastor of the church, officiating.

Burial was at Fairfield Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Billy Dotson, Larry Ivy, Charlie Ritchie, Kevin Benedict, George Robinson, John Wilson, Billy Barlow and Mark Smith.

Honorary pallbearers were members of his FBC Sunday school class.

Mr. Cole is survived by his wife of 47 years, Janice Simms Cole of Fairfield; a daughter, Caren Cole; a son, Mark Cole, wife Marsha and daughter Tawnya; grandchildren Cooper and Lauren Cole, Zachary, Zane, Jack, Margaret and Sutton Graves; a sister, Doris Bellah of Fairfield; and a brother, Bill Cole.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Clay and Josh Cole; and a granddaughter, Jessica Cole.

Arrangements were made by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home of Fairfield.