On Feb. 14, 2023, Toni Jean “Jeannie” Cole had a peaceful passing in San Diego, Calif., at the age of 73.

Jeannie was born to Warren and Betty Sue Charles in Wichita in 1949, and grew up in a loving family with four other siblings.

An aspiring artist in high school, Jeannie graduated from Campus High School in 1967, and married Steven Cole in Haysville on June 23, 1972.

The couple lived in Corpus Christi, Texas; Norwich, Conn., and Newport News, Va., before moving back to Wichita in 1978 with their infant daughter, Kristen. In 1986, the family moved to be closer to the Navy submarine base of San Diego, and made their home in Santee, Calif. Jeannie made a career for herself as a legal secretary, primarily working for three attorneys: Calvin McMillan of Wichita, and Anthony Delellis and Pierre Vaughn of San Diego, until she retired in 1993 when her bipolar mental illness made working difficult.

Jeannie suffered every couple of years with episodes of manic depression, which was difficult for all who knew and loved her. Jeannie’s last episode was 12 years ago, in the fall of 2011. Despite the difficulties of living with a mental illness, Jeannie was a devoted mother who excelled at cooking, sewing, typing, crochet, organizing, and being creative. She loved reading, enjoying her pups, and playing cards with family.

Following Steve’s retirements from the Navy in 1994 and his post-Navy career in 2003, Jeannie and Steve moved back to Kansas and bought a home in Kechi. The couple divorced in 2010, and Jeannie moved back to Wichita to be closer to family.

Jeannie broke her leg in 2020 after a slip on the ice, and moved in with her daughter’s family in San Diego to rehabilitate, and to get to know her granddaughters better. Following surgery a year later, she suffered a spinal stroke which left her paralyzed and nearly deaf. The loss of her mobility and hearing was very difficult on her, and her health took a downward turn after that. She is survived by her loving family including her daughter, Kristen Skidmore Mitten (Robert Skidmore); her granddaughters, Sabrina and Chloe Mitten; sister, Betty Charles Gray, and brother Gary Charles (Debbie), both of Wichita, and brother, Warren “Butch” Charles (Ginger) of Greenwood, Ark.; sister-in-law, Ginny of Wichita; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Richard “Rick” Charles and her parents, all of Wichita. Jeannie will be warmly remembered for her giving heart and kind smile.

The family will be hosting a celebration of life for those who remember her fondly on Friday, April 7 (her birthday) at the Historic Fresh Air Baby Camp venue at 1 p.m., at 1221 W. 11th St. .N, Wichita, in North Riverside Park.