Clarice Cole

Our beloved Clarice Smith Cole, age 88, died on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in Santa Fe, NM. She was born June 14, 1936, to Clarence W. and Alma Strawn Smith in Hollis, Oklahoma. She moved with her parents, Clarence and Alma Smith, and brother Vaughn, to Abilene, TX at an early age. During World War II, her family moved to San Anselmo, CA where her father helped to build liberty ships and she entered elementary school. After the war, the family returned to Abilene. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1954. 

Clarice attended the University of North Texas in 1954-1958, where she met Charles Cole. In 1958, she graduated with a B.S. degree in Home Economics and married Charles. The couple moved to New Haven, CT where Charles enrolled at Yale Divinity School and began his career as a United Methodist minister. The Coles lived in Monroe and New Haven, CT where Clarice gave birth to her first son, Ralph, and taught high school and nursery school. The family moved in 1961 to Saint Jo, TX and then Dallas, where she taught at Adamson High School. Three years after the birth of her second son, David, the family moved to Nashville, TN where her third son, Stephen, was born. She continued her teaching career during the family’s 18 years in Nashville, and earned a Masters degree in child development from George Peabody College for Teachers in 1977.

 In 1987 Clarice and Charles moved to New York City, where she was Director of the Riverside Weekday School. She also studied at Teachers College, Columbia University; Hunter College of the City University of New York; and Stanford University, and was a member of the National Association on the Education of Young Children.

Clarice and Charles both retired in 1999 and moved to Santa Fe, NM where Clarice was active in St. John’s United Methodist Church and served for several years as a member of the board of its weekday school. She also taught early childhood education at Santa Fe Community College, served as a volunteer in various charities, and tutored kindergarten students through the Interfaith Coalition on Public School Education.

 For several years Clarice was a docent at the Indian Arts Research Center of the School for Advanced Research, and she travelled throughout the Southwest to archeological ruins, trading posts, and centers of Native American art .

Clarice was a knitter and an art lover who loved opera and classical music equally with arts and crafts fairs, and Renaissance art equally with Native American crafts. She never met an antique store she didn’t like. Her boys remember being taken to McClures, Candyland, and fabric shops as boys in Nashville. She and her family often went hiking and exploring in the woods and mountains in TN, NY, and NM. She also enjoyed bible study and reading, and was an active book club member. She was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy but faced the disease with aplomb. In 2024 she moved to El Castillo Senior Living & Care, where she was greeted with warmth and love, and very well cared for. Those who knew Clarice describe her as a modest, gentle, sweet, and classy lady. She greeted everyone with warmth and an open heart.

 She is survived by three sons Ralph Cole of Santa Fe; David Cole (Debora )of Kingwood, TX; and Stephen Cole (Gabriel) of Maryville, TN; three grandchildren: Katie (Danny), Carmella, and Lauren Cole; a cousin, Cindy Steel Miller; nieces, Ann Folden (Bill) and Jana Osborne; and nephews Paul Smith (Tammy), Rex Cole (Betsy), Les Cole (Lisa) and Alan Cole (Lori); and brother-in-law John Callarman.

 A Christian celebration of life will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Santa Fe, NM March 8, 2025 @ 2pm, with interment in Krum, TX to follow at a later date TBA.