Iris Higgins Cole, born March 18, 1919, departed this world on March 7, 2010 in the home that she and her husband built on his return from WWII. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Irl Cole; her mother, Mattie Lou Liddle Higgins, her father, Dean Griggs Higgins, and one sister, Elizabeth Robinson. She is survived by two sons, Bill (& Barbara) Cole of New Castle, VA; Tom (& Pat) Cole of Galax; and one daughter, Kathy Cole of Galax; two sisters, Imogene Frye and Sharon (& Frank) Plichta; three brothers, Worth (& Kathleen) Higgins, Robert (& Norma) Higgins and Kenneth (& Shelbie) Higgins, all of Galax; one sister-in-law, Mary Cole of Mt. Airy, NC; two aunts, Hallie Cox and Ruby Sikes, both of Galax; six grandchildren, Dean (& Ginger) Cole and Valerie (and Eric) Peregoy, all of New Castle, Brad (& Martha) Cole and Carrie Cole of Galax, Andy Finnell of Austin, TX and Beth Finnell of Pittsburgh, PA; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; her caretakers, Pauline Lowe, Teresa Anauo, Crystal Cox, Polly Lindsey and Louise Williams.

Iris was a lifelong member of Mt. Vale Methodist Church and an accomplished seamstress, cook and gardener. She worked at the Remnant Shop for many years and fondly remembered all her friends and customers. She devoted her life to the service of others.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in the Mt. Vale United Methodist Church
at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vale Cemetery. The officiating ministers will be the Rev. Hugh Kilgore and the Rev. Rick Lindamood. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Monday at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home.