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Ruth Ann Cole (Hoover), a beloved homemaker known for her dedication to family and community, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, in Lovell, Wyoming. Born on Dec. 11, 1937, in Bushnell, Illinois, Ruth Ann lived a life rich with love, devotion and meaningful connections.
She graduated from high school in Illinois and went on to live in Fort Collins, Colorado; Jeffrey City, Wyoming; Cody, Wyoming; and Powell, Wyoming. Ruth Ann’s life was deeply intertwined with her home and her hobbies, which included gardening, canning, cooking, crocheting and sewing — pastimes that reflected her nurturing spirit and creative heart.
In July 1956, she married Marshall Heaton in Fort Collins, Colorado. Their marriage later ended in divorce in 1981. In February 1981, she married Everett Cole in Cody, Wyoming, embracing a new chapter in her life.
She leaves behind a devoted and loving family who will carry her memory forward. Her sons Stephen Heaton and Rodney Heaton, along with their spouses Katherine and Priscilla Heaton respectively, stand as a testament to her enduring love and care. Ruth Ann’s daughters, Jane McIntosh and Bonnie Buhler, cherish her memory deeply, along with her siblings, Jerry Hoover (Janice Hoover) and Larry Hoover (Sue Hoover); and 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild — each a living legacy of her warmth and kindness.
Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Elmer Hoover; her ex-husband, Marshall Heaton; her husband, Everett Cole; as well as by her son-in-law Terry McIntosh and sister-in-law Sue Hoover.
A viewing to honor Ruth Ann’s life will be held on May 19, 2026, from 1-1:45 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, located at 111 W. Third St., Powell, Wyoming. Following this, a graveside service will take place on the same day at Crown Hill Cemetery, beginning at 2 p.m.
