Jane Cole, 86, of Greensburg took her final breath on July 4, 2024. She was born on March 6, 1938 in Ironwood, Michigan, the daughter of Joseph Adams and Edith Kuivanen Martin.
She was married to Glen McDonald, her first husband who gave her three daughters with the oldest being the ringleader into mischief. Needless to say, she spent a lot of time wrangling them up like cats. In her second marriage she had a son who was just as mischievous as her daughters however who could blame him with not only being the youngest but having three older sisters.
Jane along with her mother established and owned the Col-Fair Grill in Indianapolis, IN. It was a small restaurant with homemade breads, pastries, and home cooked comfort food but always with a little side of sarcasm, comedy and love advice. Many local politicians, especially during the election season always seemed to make their way into the restaurant looking for support which they or may not have gotten. They did always take away many good meals and advice from the outspoken mother and daughter duo as well as local residents.
Jane semi-retired to Martinsville where she lived and cared for her parents. That however did not stop the dynamic mother daughter duo. Their next adventure was one of which one could out best the other in baking competitions at the Morgan County and Indiana State fairs for the ultimate yearly baking bragging rights. Of course, we knew because of having hearing their stories year after year that according to them, the only winner was determined by counting the ribbons and plaques which each proudly displayed. Another mother daughter duo project was converting those secret recipes that only they knew into a cookbook that family and friends would enjoy long after they were gone. We still use the cookbook to this day.
The duo kept it up with Jane’s mother becoming a self-taught painter/artist. Both became very involved in the Morgan County Art League with Jane presiding as President for a time. They also both became involved with the Morgan County Garden Club with Jane also serving as the club president. Jane also worked at the Circle S Food Mart in Martinsville for 15 years making many friends.
Jane at the young age of 70 relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where her baking skills were again put on display along with her experience in assisting in authoring another cookbook for the Grace Lutheran Housing complex. It’s still available, although I am not sure if her advice comes with it.
Jane has three granddaughters and one grandson along with one great granddaughter and two great grandsons. All of which have given her much joy.
She is survived by her sister Madeline Snyder, daughter Debra McDonald Lee (David), son Joseph Cole (Tamara). Stepchildren Debra Ach, (John), Bruce Cole, (Kathy) and Carolyn Cole. Granddaughters Jennifer Liebig, Sister Christina of Mary, India Lee. Grandson, Adam (wife Erin). Her great grandchildren Sabrina Jahn, Theo and Samuel Cole.
She was proceeded in death by her beloved daughters Cynthia and Bonnie McDonald. her parents, Joseph Adams, Edith, stepfather Elburon Martin, brothers Lee, Robert, Russell and her sister Katherine. There will be no public services. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.gilliland-howe.com