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L. MARJORIE TOPLISS COLE
February 6, 1919~April 2, 2011
Lulu Marjorie (Marge) Topliss Cole was born in Cimarron, Colorado, on February 6, 1919, and died on April 2, 2011, at the San Juan Living Center, Montrose, at the age of 92. Her parents, Thomas Topliss and Lulu Snyder Topliss, were early ranchers in the Little Cimarron Valley. The pioneering spirit she inherited from her parents followed her throughout life and contributed to her dynamic personality. She was a kind, loving, and thoughtful person, always willing to assist those in need, plus she had a keen sense of humor and a remarkable memory.
Marge's earliest years were spent on the family ranch in Cimarron where she developed strong bonds with her siblings Glenn, Thomas Jr., Elmer, Madelyn, Dale, and Dorothy. This segment was cut short by the murder of her father on Fitzpatric Mesa in 1924, precipitated by a land dispute. This tragic loss created many hardships for the family, which eventually led to the sale of the family ranch and relocation to Montrose. The remainder of Marge's childhood and adolescence was spent in Montrose, where she graduated from high school in 1937. During WW II she was employed as a telephone operator in Montrose; this service gave her immense pride. Following the war, she met Donald H. (Toby) Cole and they married in Montrose on October 15, 1946. For the next forty five years she resided in Delta, where her only child was born in 1948. During this period, Marge worked in sales, clerical, and secretarial jobs, and at the family business, Toby's Auto Sales. Following Toby's death in 1986, Marge eventually retired and returned to Montrose in 1991, where she resided at Anciano Tower. During retirement, she was active in the Montrose County Historical Society and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Society (RSVP).
She is survived by son Rex D. Cole of Grand Junction, and granddaughter B. Erin Cole of Denver, plus numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters. Marge was the last survivor of a remarkable western Colorado family. Her passing leaves a significant void and she will be truly missed. Additional insight into Marge's early life in Cimarron and Montrose has been documented by a series of three articles in the Montrose Daily Press authored by Marilyn Cox in 1998.
Per her request, no services are planned. Burial will be at Grand View Cemetery in Montrose. A remembrance will be held in Cimarron at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Montrose County Historical Society, in memory of Marjorie Cole, P.O. Box 1882, Montrose, Co. 81402. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colo.
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