ESTHER ?PETE? COLE ?
Esther Catherine Fogliani passed away peacefully on Jan. 25. She was born April 18, 1923 at the Delmue Ranch in Lincoln County, Nev. to Louis and Theodora Fogliani. The Fogliani family lived on their ranch in Spring Valley North of the Eagle Valley State Park. Pete was the youngest of eight children. Her brothers were John ?Jack? and George ?Jigger,? and sisters Louise ?Sukie,? Mary ?Teeter,? Olympia ?Doc,? Dora ?Dee,? and Josephine ?Jo.?
Pete attended school at several school houses throughout the county including Deer Lodge, Rose Valley, Eagle Valley and Pioche. She also attended school in Ely, a year at the 7th Street Grade School in Las Vegas, and graduated from Lincoln County High School.
In 1940, Pete married Urban ?Bud? Cole and they began their life at the Charlie Lee Ranch, raising a garden, trapping for furs, and catching mustangs. They soon moved to Pioche and rented a small home from the Olinghouse family before purchasing their Silver Street home where they would live for many years. During this time their two children, Louis and Vicki, were born. Bud ranched and also worked for Pioche Power and Light, while Pete worked at the Pioche Drug Store for Grover Swallow as clerk and bookkeeper. Later in 1963 she went to work as deputy for the Lincoln County Clerk. She was later elected to the Clerk?s position, serving around 25 years in that office.
Around 1958, Bud and Pete bought farming property near Panaca and a house further in town. The next year they moved that home onto their farm property west of town and she has lived there ever since.
Pete worked alongside Bud building their life together and making a wonderful home for their children. She was an expert gardener and loved a beautiful yard. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed hunting, picking pine nuts, hunting arrowheads, picnicking, and spending time at their Winz Creek Ranch. She was a member of the Miriam Rebekah Lodge in Pioche, an avid reader and bird-lover. Pete loved her family and enjoyed many friends.
In 1979 Bud passed away. After a couple years alone, Pete married one of her high school classmates from Ely, Floyd Silliman. He had moved here to teach at LCHS in 1980 and in the fall of 1981, they married. Pete and Floyd enjoyed traveling across America, Canada, and even Europe. Pete especially enjoyed their trip to Switzerland where she was able to visit the home her mother was raised in and the church where Grandmother Fogliani worshipped.
After Floyd?s passing in 2009, Pete continued to live in Panaca enjoying her family, friends, and her yard until her passing.
Pete was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, and her husbands Bud and Floyd.
She is survived by her children Louis Cole and Vicki (Lanny) Adair; grandchildren, Dusty (Penny) Cole, Darrin (Cindy) Cole, Toni (Chris) Charter and Jodi Adair (Dana Geoffrey deceased); great-grandchildren Clayton, Drew, Kendrick, Paris, Riley, Kiowa, Coby (Esther) Wilbur, Cole (Karli) Wilbur, and Danielle Geoffrey; and great-great-grandchildren Hudson Wilbur, Kynslee and Liam Wilbur.
Memorial services will be held at the St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery in Pioche on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Town Hall. In case of uncontrollable weather, the service will be at the Pioche Town Hall.
My name is Anita, I am Rodney Chaburn’s widow, Rod and “Pete” had such a sweet high school friendship, almost every time we saw each other, (about 6-8 times in the 30 yr. Rod and I were together) they would tell me about getting caught smoking at school. I’m sure they relived that event each time. I always thought that is such a beautiful sweet lady. At home Rod would tell me some more stories. So this little note is just to say, I know there’s a place called Heaven and these two beautiful people will continue a great friendship there. I am thankful to have known them.