Miner Emmett “JR” Cole Jr., age 84, died Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 in Mesquite, Nevada.

He was born Aug. 31, 1937, to Miner Emmett Cole Sr. and Annie Estelle Williamson Cole.

Miner was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He grew up in Salinas, California, and graduated Salinas High School in 1956.

He enjoyed a long career working as a firefighter for the California Division of Forestry as a fire crew supervisor for the Konocti Camp in Clearlake, California. He retired at the rank of Captain “B.”

After retirement, he worked at Paul’s Market in McCall, Idaho and at Smith’s in Mesquite, Nevada.

He enjoyed music, hot rods, western movies and Boise State Broncos football.

JR’s style was similar to race car driver Richard Petty: Cowboy cool.

He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include daughter, Michelle “Micki” Brown of Salinas; sons, Stephen (Mary) Cole of El Cajon, California; Patrick Cole of Mesquite, Nevada; one grandson, Daniel; and three brothers, Jimmy (Marjorie Ann), Larry (Ramona) and Jerry (Belinda).

Funeral services will be Monday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m. with a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. prior at the New Life Church of The Nazarene, 800 N. Main Street, Salinas.

Interment will follow in the Queen of Heaven Mortuary, 18200 Damian Way, Salinas.

Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.virginvalleymortuary.com.