Duane Leroy Cole

Duane Cole was a born again Christian who has walked with the Lord, his Saviour, since childhood. He was a member of Northgate Wesleyan Church, Salem, Oregon. He was proud to have served in the City of Salem Fire Department until his retirement. He founded and worked in D & M Cabinet Shop. He was known as a skilled craftsman whose cabinets and furniture can be found in many beautiful homes. His precise measurements and designs were known to make his cabinets customized and to fit perfectly in the space they were designed for. His creations and cabinets can be found all over the Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.

He was generous to his church and to his family. He had a fun-loving side and loved to tell stories of his hair-raising car excursions. With a twinkle in his eye he talked about his escapades in his bright red Buick. He entertained his kids and grandkids with stories of fire rescues, or how a firetruck driver slid the pole and responded to an alarm at the state capitol without his turnout pants. He also loved playing tricks on his fellow firemen. Like the time, when the firemen were washing the fire trucks and got into a water fight, soaking their uniforms. Soon he went upstairs in the fire station to change clothes into a clean, dry uniform. On his way back downstairs, it occurred to him that the water fight might not be over and he would again get wet. He turned around, went back up stairs, and donned another fireman's uniform, then returned down to the engine room. Sure enough, the other firemen were laying wait and soaked him again. He had so much fun telling the fireman/prankster that his spare uniform was soaking wet while his own was still dry and clean upstairs.

He was very proud of being a supporter of the first female fire fighter on the city's crew. A very fit and athletic woman was among the first few who tried out for an open position on the city's fire department. The tryouts are very strenuous and one of the applicants had successfully performed a dead man's carry up the 150 ladder over the top and down the other side. She then had to drag a body bag several feet to cross a finish line. She was exhausted and could hardly walk. As she neared the finish line, Duane and his comrades formed a line beside her yelling and cheering her on. Their enthusiastic support gave her the burst of energy she needed to cross the finish line and earn the credit of being the first woman fire fighter in Salem.

Duane was also very proud of never having smoked a cigarette and never having tasted alcohol. He was in Love with his Lord and lived a life to please Him. He was known at his church as a "prayer warrior" and was often called upon to lead public prayers. He is loved immensely by his family members and friends. Many gathered around his bed to sing, pray and tell him how much his life had encouraged them. He will be sorely missed!