Richard A. Cole, 72, passed away at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Dec. 15, 2014. Richard was born March 8 1942, in Carthage, Mo., to John Everett Cole and Rose Myrtle (Curry) Cole. Richard was lifetime Carthage resident; he was a former Carthage Firefighter and retired from Schreiber Foods. Richard was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shrine Abou-Ben-Aden, Scottish Rite Mason and the Carthage Train Crew. Richard is survived by two daughters, Michelle Taylor-Bay, of Carl Junction, and Melinda Butcher, of Carthage; two sons Allen Wescott and Michael Smith, both of Carthage; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald Cole and wife, Sandra, of Carthage, and Chuck Cole and wife, Leann, of Carthage; three sisters, Mary A Babcock, of Carthage, Alice Kost, of Joplin, and Connie Jones and husband, Sam, of Carthage; one sister-in- law, Sharon Cole; many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Richard is preceded by his parents; two brothers, John Cole and wife, Barbara and Lawrence Cole; one sister, Sherry Burlingame. Richard is survived by two daughters, Michelle Taylor-Bay, of Carl Junction, and Melinda Butcher, of Carthage; two sons Allen Wescott and Michael Smith, both of Carthage; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald Cole and wife, Sandra, of Carthage, and Chuck Cole and wife, Leann, of Carthage; three sisters, Mary A Babcock, of Carthage, Alice Kost, of Joplin, and Connie Jones and husband, Sam, of Carthage; one sister-in- law, Sharon Cole; many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Richard is preceded by his parents; two brothers, John Cole and wife, Barbara and Lawrence Cole; one sister, Sherry Burlingame. Memorial services will be held 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Ulmer Funeral Home, with Masonic rites. Contributions may be made to The Shriner's Crippled Children Fund, in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.