Margaret Carol Eason Cole

• Born: Oct. 10, 1945
• Died: Dec. 16, 2008
• Married: Bud Weir
• Married: Robert Paul Miller on Aug. 6, 1977
• Married: Gary Dean Cole on Aug. 21, 1993

Margaret Carol Eason was born Oct. 10, 1945, and died Dec. 16, 2008. She married Bud Weir, Robert Paul Miller on Aug. 6, 1977, and married Gary Dean Cole on Aug. 21, 1993.
Carol's child with Robert Paul Miller
Michael "Mike" Allen Miller

Margaret Carol Eason Cole, daughter of Lola Myrtle Stancil Eason, was born Oct. 10, 1945.

Carol was delivered at home by Dr. Woodard. She weighed a hefty 9 pounds and Myrtle was convinced she was a 10 month baby! At this time, Grover and Myrtle were living in Selma, North Carolina, renting a house from a Selma Policeman. Grover worked at a nearby dairy.  

Carol shared fond memories of Grandma Stancil. When Carol was there for meals, she tried to sit on the stool beside Grandma’s chair. To Carol this was the best place to be. She hoped Granny would call on her to give the blessing. “When Grandma called your name to bless the food, that was the best feeling of all, to be so important.”

Carol’s older sister Jean married Al LaVie on January 6, 1957. Eleven year old Carol was a bridesmaid. She wore a tea length dress of antique pink taffeta with a purple sash. Jean made her headband of braided pink and purple ribbon.

Growing up Carol was close to first cousins Mary Ann, Aunt Hilda Stancil Hales' daughter and Renn, Uncle Ralph Stancil’s daughter. They often spent several days prior to the Stancil Reunions together.

Carol was musical and Granny Stancil gave her the old pump organ that stayed in the front room. Carol played the trumpet in the Fike High School Band, Wilson, NC. Carol also learned to play ‘Sweet Hour of Prayer’ on the bugle.  She and first cousin George, Aunt Dot Stancil Dennison’s son, played a bugle duet for Granny Stancil.   This was one of Granny’s favorite songs and she treasured this gift of love.

When Carol was in high school she made clothing for her younger sister as well as Barbie clothes.  Jo Ann had the best dressed doll in the neighborhood and everyone would come to their house to play. Cousin Shirley, G.I. Stancil’s daughter, recalls Carol making her a skirt once when she spent the night with Jo Ann.

Carol graduated from Fike High School in 1964. At one time she considered nursing but realized this was not for her.

Carol moved to Washington, DC in 1965. She stayed with her sister Jean and family for awhile, assisted in caring for Shari 6, Kim 5 and Alf 4. Soon after she arrived, another daughter Karen was born. Carol then entered one of the area business colleges.

Carol graduated and began working for a CPA.   She was smart and moved on to working for an attorney. It wasn’t long before she became his executive administrative assistant.

Carol lived in a number of places in the D.C. area. One was in Rockville and another in Bethesda, Maryland. Jean’s children dubbed one ‘The Castle’ because the enclosed staircase resembled a steeple. Cousin Michelle, Rose Stancil Sweesy’s daughter, lived with Carol for several years.

Kim recalled weekends spent with Aunt Carol. Kim went home with new skirts and Barbie doll clothes. She marveled at Aunt Carol’s ability to make beautiful quilts.

Carol made several excursions outside the lower 48. Favorite trips included England, Israel and Hawaii.

Carol moved to Atlanta. Georgia. While there she got into real estate sales. She moved back to Wilson about 1976 and worked for a CPA firm.

Carol met Robert Paul Miller on one of her visits to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. He was in the Marines. Immediately they felt they had found true love. They had a whirlwind romance and soon they were setting a wedding date.  

Aunt Mamie cut and styled Carol’s hair. Preacher Morgan married them in her parent’s living room on August 6, 1977. This was a small intimate wedding. Carol wore a blue satin dress with matching jacket covered with embroidery and beading. Carol’s immediate family plus Aunt Mamie, Aunt Hilda, Aunt Rachel, and cousin Gilda Six attended. A few weeks after the wedding Robert’s parents came to visit.

Carol and Robert moved to Newbern, North Carolina. This was close to Cherry Point where Robert was stationed. While living in Newbern their son Michael Allen Miller was born on December 23, 1978.  

Robert was discharged from the Marines in 1979. He moved his family to California where his parents lived. Carol looked forward to seeing her brother Frank who stayed in California after retiring from the Navy.

Carol and Robert moved to San Bernardino. Carol began working in the office at a plant nursery and eventually went back into real estate. All was not well at home and love seemed to elude Carol. She and Robert divorced after four years of marriage on July 21, 1983.

Carol worked a variety of jobs. In 1990 she met Gary Dean Cole while working for an electrical engineering firm. Gary was an electrical engineer and grew up in Oklahoma.

It wasn’t long before they knew this was a special relationship. Carol and Gary Cole were married at Swan Lake Park, in the Club House at Mirror Loma Trailer Park on August 21, 1993. Carol made her wedding dress. It was a beautiful ballet length ivory dress covered with beading and sequins.   Family members arrived for this memorable celebration. Among those attending were Myrtle, Jean & Al, Frank, Cleve & Bonnie, children Jesrah and James, Jo Ann & Doug and son Josh.

Carol returned to selling real estate. This suited Carol’s bubbly personality and her natural southern charm was an asset. Eventually Gary decided to join Carol in selling real estate.

Carol was an excellent cook. She was known for her oyster dressing, BBQ pulled pork, Pig Pick’n cake and trash can pickles. Several of Carol’s favorite recipes are in the new Stancil Family Cookbook.

Carol was a very generous person, always making things for family.  In recent years she would send packages to her sisters from her ‘backyard orchard’ consisting of lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, kumquats and avocados.

Carol was extremely talented and could do almost anything she set her mind to.  She was an excellent seamstress and in addition to sewing for family members at one time made custom clothing for a few clients.  Among her other accomplishments were refinishing wood furniture, re-upholstering furniture, needlepoint, crocheting, knitting and quilting.  Carol taught herself to knit and made baby clothes for Michael.  She made several quilts but her favorite was the crazy quilt that she worked on for more than two decades.  It is a king size quilt made from wool scraps and decorated with embroidery, crewel and appliqué.

Carol’s love of music began early. At the end of her life gospel was her favorite.

Carol had some health problems over the years. She had heart surgery and later developed lung cancer.

Carol loved animals, especially cats. Two of her favorites were a pair of Siamese, Sam and Pi-wackett.  

JoAnn flew out to visit Carol in October for her birthday. Carol was not well. Michael, Carol’s son, moved back to California so he could help care for his mother.

Carol called Gary her Knight in shining Armor. They brought out the best in each other and their love affair was one to envy.

Carol and Gary decided to retire in Whaleyville, Maryland. They purchased the perfect house near Jean and made plans to move within a few years. The entire family was looking forward to having them near. Carol was especially looking forward to attending Stancil Reunions again.

Carol died December 17, 2008, at her home in Corona, California of pneumonia and liver disease.

Carol received last rites. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in Maryland, her adopted home.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents Myrtle and Grover Eason, older brother Lelon Woodrow Eason Sr., and niece Jennifer Lynn Eason.