James "Mike" Coles

James Michael Coles 'Mike' age 73 died June 28, 2020 of cancer. Mike was born in Searcy, Arkansas on November 27, 1946 and raised in Augusta, Arkansas. He was the eldest of 5 children born to JT and Irene Coles.

Mike's parents had a cotton farm and Mike showed his strong work ethic very early on as he spent long summer days picking cotton. After graduating from high school Mike joined the US Air Force as a Communications Specialist.  While in the Air Force he was fortunate to be stationed at RAF Croughton in England where he met the love of his life Jan (Pearson). They were married on January 24, 1969 in Arkansas just before Mike was deployed to Thailand for a year.

After his discharge from the U.S. Air Force, Jan and Mike moved to Ft. Worth Texas and it was there that their son Steve was born in 1971.

Mike became interested in and fascinated by computers when data processing was in its infancy. He worked full time and took a full course load at college to attain his accounting degree from the University of Texas-Dallas.  Mike always had strong entrepreneurial instincts and started his own accounting company (Coles Data Systems) and an insurance business (Guardian General Insurance Agency) in Plano, Texas where the family has lived for the past 47 years.  Throughout his life Mike was a great sports enthusiast and participated in running, tennis, skiing, racquetball, soccer, karate and bowling.  As with everything he did, he put his all into his sports and won many awards including a bowling ring for a 300 game and another for a 800 series. His teammates and the friends he made in all of these sports added richness to his life that he cherished.

Mike loved his God, his family and his friends and he expressed his love on a daily basis with his kindness and caring.  Left to mourn the loss of this remarkable man are his wife of 51 year, Jan; son Steve and his wife Shellie (Clarendon, Texas) and two wonderful and much loved grandchildren Dalton and Shelbi; siblings, Barbara Strayhorn (Mike), Gary Coles (Joy), Suzanne Kindrex (Walter), and Joe Coles (Natalya).  He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws in England and South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents JT and Irene Coles.

The family will receive friends for a visitation Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 6:00- 8:00 P.M. at Allen Family Funeral Options, Plano, Texas.  There will be a funeral service to celebrate Mike’s life Thursday, July 2, 2020 at 12:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Those who cannot attend may watch the Live Stream webcast or the recorded version later at the link below:

http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/32250

Mike will be laid to rest with military honors at a private burial at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.