Bonham, Texas -- Betty Ruth Covington Cole, 88, passed away July 21, 2025, at her residence in Bonham, Texas surrounded by her family after a relatively brief battle with Alzheimer’s.

She was born on May 5, 1937 in Lamar County, Texas to Alford and Charlisey Covington. She married Loyd O’Neal Cole in 1954 in Paris, Texas. They moved to Bonham shortly after their marriage where they raised their family. Betty and Loyd celebrated 67 years of marriage shortly before his death in 2021.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Loyd O’Neal Cole, and her youngest son Lance Reed Cole, her parents, brother T.J. Covington, and two sisters Marjorie Covington and Beverly Covington.

She is survived by her oldest son, Steven O’Neal Cole (Broken Bow, Oklahoma), her only granddaughter, Meghan Cryer Weaver and husband Sean (Bonham, Texas), three great grandchildren Faith Weaver, and Dakota and Preston Cryer, two sisters Mamie Gay (Amarillo) and Barbara Covington McCarty (Seminole), as well as niece Destiny Newell Brown and husband Kurt (Seminole, Texas), along with other extended family who loved her dearly.

Betty was a longtime member of Boyd Baptist Church. She retired from Bonham Independent School District and also worked at Northeast Medical Center. Betty was devoted to her family and was a constant source of encouragement to many of her nieces and nephews as they were growing up. She had many lifetime friends and neighbors whom she cherished, many of whom preceded her in death.

Betty was buried in a private ceremony at Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Wise Funeral Home.

The family wish to extend their sincere gratitude to Heart to Heart Hospice for the care they provided during the last several weeks of Betty’s life.