Edwin "Eddy" Alan Cole

Edwin “Eddy” Alan Cole, 79, passed away at Hot Springs Health in Thermopolis, Wyoming on July 29, 2026.

Eddy was born on March 24, 1947 in Rapid City, South Dakota. He was the third of five children born to Alan W. and Dealda Alberta (MaDill) Cole.

Eddy could often be found at the rock shop, telling stories to anyone who would take a few moments to listen. His knowledge of many subjects was impressive! He always made time for the kids, trying to spark interest in rocks and minerals and how they relate to daily lives.

He also served as a volunteer fireman in South Dakota and in Thermopolis and would volunteer for just about anything. He was an exquisite carpenter, and had hand-built many jewelry cabinets, dresser drawers and desks; birdhouses were another of his specialties. He was also a very good artist, having sold some paintings in his early days and he loved making pencil drawings of streams and trees of the black hills. Gold panning in the Black Hills was among the first real passions that turned into his life pursuit of geology/minerology and paleontology.

Among Eddy’s many passions, geology and paleontology stood foremost. His discoveries across these fields were extensive and made lasting contributions to natural science. Through fieldwork, deep knowledge, and persistence, he helped uncover new dinosaur species, carpoids, and other complete specimens now housed in museums around the world. His most notable and life-changing discovery came in 1992, when he identified the Warm Springs Ranch Jurassic dinosaur locality. This Morrison Formation site included 700 acres of prime siltstone, deposited as thousands of animals from the Morrison fauna used the area approximately 156 to 148 million years ago. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center was later built on-site, where it displays several complete specimens and provides access to the original dig site locations he discovered.

Eddy was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Sherry Berry, James Cole and Dennis Cole. Survivors include his sister, Kathleen Reickle, his sons, Edwin (Kelly) Cole II of Thermopolis, Wyoming, Anthony (Leslie) Cole of Worland; grandchildren: Logan Cole; Cameron (Emily) Cole, Garret (Lily) Cole, Ralanya Cole and Maddux Cole; great-grandchildren: Tucker-James Cole, Josephine Cole and Ember Lewis. He also leaves behind Ava Cole, his business partner and lifelong explorer and fellow fossil/mineral hunter.

A Celebration of life will be held in June of 2027 in Thermopolis, with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy. Further information will be given closer to that time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Ava Cole, 631 Shoshoni St. Thermopolis WY, 82443. These donations will be used for the publication of Edwin’s biography. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.