Jackson, MS
Funeral Home
Parkway Funeral Home
Visitation
Due to Covid-19 no visitation.
Service
Private graveside service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson, MS
Obituary
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero have been released from duty, passed from our ranks on August 10, 2020 and moved on to his heavenly home. LTC (Ret) Thomas Phillip Cote, III, age 68, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard who had served within the 1/155 Infantry Bn, MSARNG MMA, 102 Public Affairs & MSNG JFH has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. Phil had worked and retired as a full-time employee of the MSARNG working within the Facilities Directorate.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country giving up their family time, comfort and safety for their country ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur still remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, this country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain, your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
May God continue to look over you and your family. “Stand At Rest Soldier”
Obituary
Thomas Philip Cote, III, 68, passed away August 10, 2020, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, MS following a brief illness. Phil was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. He was a 1969 graduate of Central High School in Jackson, MS where he was a member of the ROTC. After graduation, Phil attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. While at USM, Phil was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. After four years of ROTC at USM, Phil was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He was assigned to the Army Officer Basic and Advanced Course for Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After his graduation from Armor School, he was assigned to the Mississippi National Guard where he held several military positions. His first assignment was a Tactical Officer with the Mississippi Military Academy, later becoming a Platoon Leader with C Company 1/155th Infantry in Brookhaven then to Detachment 1, C Company in Port Gibson. He was later assigned as Community Relations Officer with the 102nd Public Affairs Detachment in Jackson. Phil was assigned to the State Headquarters in 1984 as Contracting Administrator in the Facilities Management Office. Later, he was assigned as the Budget Officer which is the position he held until he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. Phil received numerous awards and decorations during his years of service in the Mississippi National Guard. Phil is preceded in death by parents Dr. Thomas Philip Cote, Jr. and Jeanette Fuente Cote of Jackson, MS; grandparents Andrew Ramon and Elizabeth Necaise Fuente of Gulfport, MS; Dr. Thomas Philip Cote, Sr. and Dorothy Logue Cote of Jackson, MS. Survivors are siblings Elizabeth “Cissy” Arender (Gene) of Franklin, TN, Lisa McGinley (Dave) of Cabot, AR, Andy Cote (Tara) of Madison, MS, Tim Cote (Diane) of Spencer, OK, Henry Cote (Beth) of Jackson, MS. Phil is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and special friend Paula Looney. Due to the COVID pandemic, a private graveside service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson, MS. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157. Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, MS is handling arrangements.