Wilma L. “Brooke” (Bishop) Cole, departed this life on June 8, 2025. Following a difficult battle with Parkinson’s Disease, she died peacefully at home. Wilma was born on January 24, 1938, to Rose Mary (McGee) Bishop and William Howard Bishop, on their family farm outside of Tribune, Kansas. The second of seven children, she grew up knowing the hardships as well as the beauty of Western Kansas farm life during that time period: dust storms, drought, tornadoes, and failed crops; but also, beautiful sunsets on waving fields of wheat; horizons as far as you could see against piercing, blue summer skies; the peacefulness of grazing livestock; the success of a completed harvest; county fairs, neighbor helping neighbor and a one-room school house that kindled a great love of learning that she carried with her the rest of her life. Though she left the farm as a young woman, Wilma returned to it again and again as an adult and took her children there frequently through their childhood, so they could come to know the unique love of the place she called home. Until Parkinson’s Disease prevented travel, she returned to the family farm to gather with her siblings during the Christmas holidays every year. Though Wilma lived the entirety of her adult life in the city, her heart stayed tied to a small farm town in Western Kansas, all her days.
Upon graduating from Tribune High School, Wilma attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City and graduated with a degree in Nursing. From there she moved to Wichita and began her nursing career at St. Joseph Hospital. In 1959 she married Bill Kelley and began a family in Wichita. In 1966 the family moved to Hutchinson where Wilma and her husband owned and operated 3 restaurants until the late 70’s. After moving to Hutchinson, Wilma left her nursing career to be a stay-at-home mom, returning once the youngest was in high school. The second half of her nursing career Wilma spent teaching at Hutchinson Community College, working to create legislation that would improve the conditions of nursing homes in Kansas, and finally as Marketing Director for Mennonite Friendship Communities.
In 1992, Wilma married Larry Cole, of Hutchinson, KS. The couple filled the following 30 plus years with travel, adventure, and a variety of real estate ventures. Their most notable achievement was their purchase of a 115-year-old Victorian era mansion, which they moved in sections to a mountainside lot in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Over 3 years, they reassembled, restored, and turned what had been a broken, about-to-be-torn down, house into a showplace. Wilma’s creativity, ability to research historical architecture, and her eye for decorating helped create a magnificent residence. The home and the story of Wilma and Larry’s endeavor was featured in several regional and national travel magazines, and after their eventual conversion to an operating bed and breakfast, has appeared regularly on the Travel Chanel, highlighting places to stay in The Colorado Rockies ski resort towns.
In addition to her adventures with husband, Larry, Wilma’s greatest source of happiness was with her children and grandchildren. “Nana” was the thing Wilma loved to be called most. Her exceptional devotion to her grandchildren filled their lives with love and richness. They will deeply miss her but carry fond memories and traditions of her love.
Wilma was a life-long learner and excelled at everything she turned her hand to, whether it was nursing, teaching, cake decorating, gardening, ceramics, cooking, interior decorating--to name but a few. There was truly little that she was interested in that she did not find a way to learn about and enjoy. She loved theatre, music, art, travel, museums, sailing, and holidays. ALL HOLIDAYS. Wilma celebrated and decorated for every holiday, big and small, and Christmas was her favorite. The lives of her children and grandchildren will forever be filled with the holiday traditions she established for them, and that will live on for generations to come.
Wilma was a small person in stature, but she lived life in a very big way. Not big, in a showy or flashy way, but in an all-in, full-heart, arms-wide-open way. She loved and was loved, which is, perhaps the greatest testament to any life. She will be greatly missed and always remembered.
She is survived by those who miss her most: Husband, Larry Cole; her children, Laurie Kelley-Briggs, Douglas Kelley (Cindy), Eric Kelley (Mandy) and Gretchen Kelley; her Grandchildren: John Eric Kelley, Emma Kelley, Katelyn Kelley, Billy Briggs and Trey Cole; siblings: Homer Bishop, Faye LeBlanc (Dan), Maurine Pruitt, Jeanie Huddleston, and Gilbert Bishop.
Wilma is preceded in death by her parents, Rose (McGee) Bishop and William Howard Bishop, and her brother Melvin Bishop (Jeanette).
Celebration of Life will be Friday June 27 at 10:30 am at Elliott Mortuary with Fr. Greg LeBlanc officiating and Pastor Steve Cummings officiating the graveside. Friends may sign her book from 9 am - 5 pm Saturday and Monday to Thursday and 1 - 8 pm Sunday.