Marjorie “Margie” Maxine Cole, 80, passed away on March 16, 2025, in Artesia, New Mexico.

Cremation was handled under the direct care of Terpening & Son Mortuary.

Margie was born on April 8, 1944, in Floydada, Texas, to Arthur and Mary Washburn. The oldest of eight children, Margie helped raise her younger siblings and grew up in southern New Mexico, where her roots ran deep.

Life brought Margie more than her share of challenges, and she met them with grit, determination, and a deep love for her family. She raised three sons, Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Audie Cole, who were the pride of her life. Though she worked primarily as a convenience store clerk, Margie would tell you her greatest accomplishment wasn’t found in any job title it was in raising good men.

She loved reading and could devour books at a remarkable pace. She also enjoyed quilting, and was a lover of classic films, especially the old black-and-whites. While she could come across as stubborn or sharp-tongued, those who knew her well understood there was fierce loyalty beneath that exterior. She was proud of her many nieces and nephews, even if she didn’t always say so out loud.

Margie was a woman of deep faith. She spoke with her sons nearly every day and made it a point to remind them often to stay close to God. She worried about the state of the world, held strong conservative values, and was able to find a renewed hope with the change in direction of the country over the past year.

She is preceded in death by her sister Karen Schoolcraft and brother Billy Washburn.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons Joe Jackson (and daughter Amanda Jackson), Michael Jackson and wife Sheila (with their children Tiffany and Brandon), and Audie Cole and wife Charlie, who returned to Artesia in recent years to help care for her. She is also survived by her siblings Johnny Washburn, Bobby Washburn, Virginia Jackson, Peggy Ballou, and Belle Wilson, as well as her longtime caregiver Ambar Avila, who she loved dearly.

In honor of Margies life, the family invites others not to send flowers, but instead to pay it forward: Raise your children well, stay close to God, and stand firm in your values. She would have liked that.