Mr. Cole Richard Jones' Obituary
On Sunday, April 14th, the world lost a loving son and brother - Cole Richard Jones (25) at home in St. Petersburg, FL. While his death was unexpected, Cole suffered from an escalating drug addition, which for years we feared would claim his life. We are grateful that when he died, he was safe and with family.
Cole was a born sportsman and had unique ability to not only excel, but master any outdoor sport he was presented with. This allowed him to discover parts of his life that, to many, seemed to be distractions, but actually served to cross-train him in ways he'd never imagined, enabling him to become more grounded, globally aware, and most surprisingly, a much better son - even at the frustration of his older brothers.
It's impossible to capture a person in an obituary, and especially someone whose adult life was largely defined by drug addiction. To some, Cole was just an addict — when they saw his addiction, they stopped seeing HIM. And what a loss for them. Because Cole was hilarious, and warm, and fearless. He could and would talk to anyone, and when you were in his company you wanted to stay. In a system that seems to have hardened itself against addicts and is failing them every day, he was adored as a son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and being loved by Cole was a constantly astonishing gift.
More than any time in recent history, your destiny is not of your own choosing. If you yourself are struggling from addiction, know that every breath is a fresh start. Know that hundreds of thousands of families who have lost someone to this disease are praying and rooting for you. Know that we believe with all our hearts that you can and will make it. It is never too late. We did not seek nor did we invite a confrontation with this evil. The chances are very good that someone you know is struggling with it, and that person needs and deserves your empathy and support, to help them rise to master that moment when it does arrive.
We take comfort in knowing that Cole is surrounded by light and free from the struggle that haunted him. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels - they're our brothers and sisters, students and teachers, and our parents and our friends. Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. We would have given anything for Cole to experience that freedom in this lifetime. Our grief over him is infinite. And now so is he.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life honoring Cole on Sunday, April 28th, from 2pm - 5pm ET, at R.O.C. Park at 200 Rex Pl, Madeira Beach, FL 33708.
Cole is survived by his parents, Eric Jones and Marsha Jones; his brother, Evan Jones; his brother, Garrett Jones; his grandmother, Linda Fitzgerrell; and many other aunts, uncles and cousins, including the Jones, Duncans, and Fitzgerrells.
Online condolences and memories may be shared on Cole's tribute page at www.memorialparkfuneralhome.com
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