Kay Cole

Billi Kay (Tester) Cole was born to William and Arcile (Owens) Tester in Springfield, Missouri on December 25, 1958. She departed this life on May 12, 2025 at her home in Norwood, Missouri at 66 years of age.

Kay grew up in Norwood where she attended school from first grade through her senior year, where she developed friendships that lasted her lifetime. She graduated from Norwood High School in 1976.

She began her adult life gladly by starting a family with the love of her life at seventeen years old. Joe and Kay were united in marriage on July 10, 1975 in Macomb, Missouri at the Corinth Baptist Church. She deeply loved her husband, children, and grandchildren by making each day a joy for them with her bright smile and loving care she tirelessly provided.

Kay was a hard worker, and spent the last twenty-five plus years as a forklift driver for French’s in Springfield, Missouri, from where she retired.

Kay became a member of the First Baptist Church of Norwood at a young age. She grew up serving the Norwood community working side by side with her parents and brother at the Tester Freeze and Filling Station. Over the years, she took on many projects including gardening, canning, cooking, and various outdoor adventures. She attended many ballgames, music concerts, plays, and activities for her children and grandchildren. She beamed with pride as she watched them in all their various endeavors. However, the thing she loved most was visiting with her cherished family and friends.

Kay is preceded in death by her loving parents and brother, Jackie Ray Tester.

She is survived by her husband, Joe Allen Cole, two daughters, Jennifer Elaine and Steven Sanders of Urbana, Missouri, and Tracey Marie and Matt Hurst of Cabool, Missouri, as well as five granddaughters, McKinley and Bryce Coday, McKaylyn Sanders, Mariah and Quinton Coble, Adrian Fleetwood and Wynston Skaggs, and Alexis Hurst, and four grandsons, Walker and Savannah Ince, Conner and Abby Hurst, Tyler Fleetwood, and Eli Hurst. She also had five great-grandchildren: Emberly, Cashton, Waylon, Haisley, and Wynona.

She will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew her.