Billi Kay (Tester) Cole

Billi Kay (Tester) Cole was born to William and Arcile (Owens) Tester in Springfield, on Dec. 25, 1958. She departed this life on May 12, 2025, at her home in Norwood, 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, 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 25-plus years as a forklift driver for French’s in Springfield, 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 ball games, 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; and Tracey Marie and Matt Hurst, of Cabool; 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. Funeral services for Kay Cole were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, in the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Jennifer Sanders officiated and Don Forrest read the obituary. Special songs were “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” “Landslide” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” “Landslide” was performed by Adrian Fleetwood accompanied by guitarist, Gavin Sanders. Serving as pallbearers were Nick Cole, Walker Ince, Tyler Fleetwood, Conner Hurst, Matt Hurst and Steven Sanders while Justin Cole and Eli Hurst served as honorary pallbearers. Burial followed at Thomas Cemetery in Norwood, under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.