Mary Catherine Ingle Cole

Mrs. Mary Catherine Ingle Cole, age 87, of Dalton, Georgia, passed away late in the evening on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Mary Catherine is preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Mr. Jack Herman Cole. She is survived by her two loving daughters, Tammy Cole and Katrina 'Nina' Cole, one neice, Kathy Cole Valdivieso, as well as several first cousins: Dolores Cox Martin, Terry Cox, Lanny Cox, Kenny Cox, and Randall Ingle.

Mary Catherine was a devoted mother to Tammy and Nina. She was the the leader of Girl Scout troop 797 from Brownie Scouts through their Senior Graduation from Dalton High School in 1978. From spelunking in Cumberland Caverns to dinner theater at the Midnight Sun in Atlanta, GA she planned & accompanied the girls on special outings. She led them participating in community service projects and charity activities. She continued to remain in contact with several of them.

Her daughters loved animals, & Catherine dutifully and cheerfully supervised the menagerie...everything from seahorses & aquariums with fish that glow in the dark, bunnies & turtles, Easter chicks & ducks, kittens & cats, to puppies & dogs were treated as beloved family members.

She encouraged her daughters' educational pursuits and careers. She involved her children in world matters and local awareness. As early as grade school her daughters had international pen pals and participated as pages at the State Capital. She made sure they went to the library every week, checked out books, and she read those books to them and later with them. Reading the encyclopedia was often encouraged. She carried her daughters to countless Bible Studies as youngsters.

Catherine loved to travel with her family. She served as an extra on Touched By An Angel after a road trip across the country to the film site in Park City, Utah. She also took a road trip to Maine because Jack wanted fresh lobster. She went with the Recycled Teenagers to Colorado. She traveled internationally to Acapulco, Mexico, Banff and Montreal, Canada, and the Grand Cayman Islands.

Mary Catherine was the number one supporter of her daughters in the DHS Band & encouraged both as they served as drum major. After the girls grew up, Catherine became owner & Proprietress of a local gift shop that she named The Lily Pad. She had God-given creativity and made many framed pressed flower wedding invitations upon request along with graduation invitations, and decorative pressed flower pictures for special occasions. She created earrings from dogwood blossoms, preserving them with her own secret technique. She loved sharing her many creative ideas with her Garden Club, friends, and family. A dedicated member of the Joie De Vie Garden club & the fun loving Red Hat Society, Catherine treasured her friends. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Dalton & trusts in Jesus as her Savior & Lord.

Through the years, Catherine and Jack enjoyed playing conasta with several close friends from high school that were couples, meeting monthly to assure lifelong friendships, all while their children were growing up together, also. She was an avid bridge player, and shared this hobby with many dear friends over the years.

Mary Catherine was devoted to her family and always made the holidays, birthdays, and special occasions extra special. She was an avid cook and shared her love of cooking with her special neighbor Mary Beth McEntire Weldon.

Mary Catherine was a true go-getter and a very courageous woman. When her husband was away at the Georgia General Assembly in the House of Representatives for 10 consecutive years, she cared for her children and caused them to know no fear during each of those winter months while their father was away.

She served her community alongside members of The Woodmen of the World and her family by honoring the Habitat for Humanity families with a Christmas party yearly.

Later, when her health had declined to the point of needing long term medical care, she was still creating beautiful paper flowers daily, and enjoyed sharing them with others. She would encourage those alongside her that were in need and made sure they knew that she cared.

Funeral services to honor and celebrate Mary Catherine's life will be conducted on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Love Funeral Home with Rev. Eric Geil officiating. Mary Catherine will be laid to rest beside her husband in Whitfield Memorial Gardens. Mary Catherine's family will receive friends for visitation immediately following the service.

Condolences and messages of sympathy may be expressed for Mary Catherine's family through Love Funeral Home's online guestbook.