MAYVILLE- Robert "Bob" Searle Cole Sr., 84, of Mayville, and formerly of Gowanda, NY, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Absolute Care Nursing Facility in Westfield, NY.

He was born June 7, 1936 in Gowanda, NY, the son of the late Allen Ward Cole Sr., and Lucy Pastorette Searle Cole.

Bob graduated from Gowanda High School in 1955 and went on to earn his Accounting degree from Mohawk Valley Tech. He then went to work as an accountant for Peter Cooper in Gowanda, NY and then Forbes and Wagner Electronics in Silver Creek, NY, where he retired from.

He was a member of the Gowanda Moose Lodge #1382, the Westfield Moose Lodge #118, the Gowanda Kiwanis Club where he is a past president, the Silver Creek American Legion Post 148, the Slovenia Club of Gowanda and the Mayville Senior Citizens.

Bob enjoyed going south for the winter to Myrtle Beach, SC where he would walk the beach looking for seashells and shark teeth. He also enjoyed taking care of his lawn, reading the newspaper, smoking cigars, skiing, boating, fishing trips with his father, and taking trips down memory lane.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 46 years; Nancy Strohm Cole, whom he married December 6, 1974 in in the Holy Trinity Church of Gowanda, NY, one daughter; Robin Mills of Conway, SC, one son; Robert S. Cole Jr of Florida, one step daughter; Colleen Daly Myers of Gowanda, NY, and two grandchildren; Ashley Nicole Myers of Kenmore, NY and Justin Craig Myers of Seattle, WA.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother; Allen Ward Cole Jr., and three sisters; Marilyn Cole Shaver, Margaret Cole Frost, and Mary Lou Cole Attarian.

The funeral will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville (139 S Erie St). The Rev. Mark Parsons will officiate. Burial will be in the Cottage Cemetery, Cottage, NY.

The family will receive friends from 4-7PM on Friday, January 29, at the funeral home as well as from 10AM until noon on Saturday prior to the service. Funeral home capacity is limited to 33% and face masks must be worn.

Memorial donations can be made to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC/St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105).

To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com