Anna Lou Cole Spencer, of Paris, Texas, passed away on October 6, 2026, at the age of 87. She was born April 28, 1939, in Muse, Oklahoma, to Artie Preston Cole and Birdie Elma Williams Cole.
Anna Lou was a woman who lived life on her own terms. She was fiercely independent, strong-willed, and, as those who knew her best would probably agree, more than a little stubborn. But those qualities were part of what made her uniquely Anna. She knew what she believed, followed her own path, and wasn’t easily talked out of anything.
Anna Lou had a deep love for animals and spent much of her life looking out for those who could not look out for themselves. She was known to keep food in her car so she could feed any stray animal she happened to encounter. Her compassion extended to every animal she came across, and her own beloved dog, June Bug, was a very special part of her life.
Birds held an especially treasured place in Anna Lou’s heart. She had families of birds that she had fed for years, and you would never see her bird feeders empty. She kept dozens birdhouses and welcomed the birds that made them their homes. Even owls found a place there, living in some of the birdhouses she had provided. Caring for the animals around her wasn’t simply something Anna Lou enjoyed; it was a part of her everyday life.
She had a gift for finding beauty and meaning in places that others might simply pass by.
Anna Lou also had a curious and adventurous spirit. She loved genealogy and enjoyed uncovering the stories of those who came before her. She loved nature, rock hunting, and exploring small towns. She would venture down the road to discover old buildings, forgotten places, and cemeteries, always curious about the history and stories hidden there.
Her love of rock hunting could take her just about anywhere. She would travel to Mexico in search of interesting rocks and would venture into places most people would never think to go. She would even drive her Cadillac through pastures just to reach riverbeds where she could hunt for rocks. Anna Lou’s adventures were never limited by an ordinary road—or by what anyone else thought was a reasonable way to get there.
She had a gift for finding beauty and meaning in places that others might simply pass by. Whether she was searching for a rock in a riverbed, tracing a family story through genealogy, exploring an old cemetery, or making sure the birds had food, Anna Lou followed her curiosity wherever it led her.
Anna Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Spencer, in 1992; her parents, her sisters, Esther Geneva Cole Irey and Geraldine Cole Spencer; her brothers, Barney Preston Cole, Glen Edward Cole, and Milburn Earl Cole, and her beloved pets Zack, Stumpy, and Rusty.
She is survived by her sons, Bryan Seymour and Brad Seymour; sister, Charlotte Wade; granddaughter, Misty (Carl) Vaughn; great-granddaughter, Jessi Exum; her beloved dog June Bug, along with a host of relatives in friends
Anna Lou leaves behind more than family and memories. She leaves behind stories, discoveries, acts of kindness, and a legacy of caring for the people and animals around her. She lived independently, loved fiercely, stayed curious, and never stopped exploring.
She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all of the people and animals whose lives she touched.
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap…. Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” – Matthew 6:26
