Annette Cole

Annette Smithey Cole went home to be with her Lord Tuesday morning January 25, 2022 after a lengthy and courageous battle with multiple illnesses at the age of 72. Annette was born in Minden on July 3, 1949 in Columbus, Georgia. Her family moved to Sibley, Louisiana in 1954 where she attended Sibley High School from grades 1-12. She attended Louisiana Tech University and received Baccalaureate and Masters degrees in Secondary Education and Curriculum. Annette began her teaching career in Doyline, and spent the next twenty years impacting the lives of "Doyline Panthers" who still fondly remember her today. Annette then moved to Texas where she taught for several years before making a return to her home state to teach at Holy Cross and work in real estate in New Orleans. She then transitioned back to Texas where she spent the remainder of her teaching career at Dowell Middle School in McKinney while living in Richardson. After retirement, Annette returned to her roots in Webster Parish to be closer to family, living out the remaining years of her life in Minden. Annette was a private person who cherished her small group of very close friends, many of whom she had maintained close relationships with since college. Her colleagues will always remember her for perfectly timed sarcastic quips, her absolute dedication to her students, and her ability to never let the stresses of work get in the way of a good time with friends and family. Those who knew her well will also fondly remember her love of strong coffee in the mornings. She needed at least two cups before talking to anyone besides her beloved cats - Smokey, who was with her for 18 years, and Lizzy, who she enjoyed for the past seven years. More than anything, "Aunt Net" adored her nieces, nephews and their children. Annette was preceded in death by her father, John Willie Smithey and her mother Mary Waldron Smithey Ruffin, her beloved sister Marilyn Smithey Lee and her loving mamaw Arie Permelia Yates Smithey. Left to cherish the memories of her wonderful life are her husband Martin Cole of Minden, her sister Martha Smithey and husband Luis Ramirez of Lubbock Texas, her brothers, William John Smithey and wife Bonnie of Haughton, and Richard Lee Smithey of Sibley. She will be dearly missed as well by her nephews Billy Fish and wife Becky of Dubberly, and John Michael Fish of Minden, her nieces Terri Paul and husband Kenneth of Alexandria, and Crystal Gann and husband Quincy of Bossier City, her nephew Hershel Lee Callender and wife Heather of Lubbock, Texas, her stepfather William Clifford Ruffin of Minden, and her multiple great-nieces and nephew. Visitation will be held Friday from 5-7 pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden, Louisiana. In lieu of a funeral at this time, A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming months when her many friends and family are able to safely gather and enjoy a beautiful day to remember her. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rose-Neath Funeral Home 211 Murrell Street Minden, Louisiana 71055 (318) 377-3412