Gregory “Skip” Cole, longtime Alisal Guest Ranch resident and wrangler, passed away in Santa Barbara at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, with family at his side.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 24, 1946, to parents Leo Cole and Alda B. Kaufman Cole.

Skip is survived by a brother Monte Cole in Nebraska; his son Jason Cole (Virginia); and granddaughter Emily Rose. He also leaves a daughter, Colette Cole.

Skip spent his school years in southern California, graduating from high school in the city of Hawthorn. He liked to mention that a couple of the Beach Boys lived nearby.

Skip served as a Navy seaman in Vietnam, handling ammunitions for artillery. He told of seeing agent orange descending on the coastlines they were patrolling in small boats.

During his later years, he also served as a mentor/counselor to young men through an evening program at Mission Santa Ynez.

Skip had fond memories of time spent on his grandparents’, then his uncle’s, ranch in South Dakota, although he always added that it was so very cold there, and that he much preferred the weather in California.

He and his ex-wife raised Jason and Colette in Riverside County where for about 10 years he bred, raised and showed Paint horses around the southwest with the help of his family. During that period Skip also worked for Trimen, his inlaws’ oil products company, as a driver and salesman.

After raising his family, Skip fulfilled his desire to personify the quintessential cowboy by working on a big cattle ranch in New Mexico with his cousin Candy. He also worked on other dude horse operations before coming to the Alisal Guest Ranch in 1997.

Over a span of four decades and almost 30 years Skip became a beloved fixture at the Alisal. He led many guests on enjoyable horseback rides, teaching the kids, then their kids, how to ride, how to enjoy nature, and understand the lingo of a cowboy.

He finished out his years of employment at the ranch announcing the weekly rodeos; telling stories up at the breakfast rides to the Adobe; and keeping everyone laughing.

He held on as long as he physically could working closely with the horses by bringing drafts of horses up the alley afoot in the dark predawn to the catch pen for the catcher to halter them. He had known them all.

Skip always remembered his coworkers’ birthdays with a card and specially selected gift, which goes to say, he considered all his fellow wranglers to be his friends.

“Always and forever, Cowboy Skip” he would sign his cards.

He will be remembered dearly by his family and many friends, and he will be sorely missed. His absence from the Alisal barn and bunkhouse leaves a hole that only he could fill.

Rest in peace in the presence of your Lord Jesus, Skip. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”

Skip’s family and friends acknowledge and thank everyone at the Alisal who supported him during his tenure there and helped in his care when he needed it. Your compassionate efforts are eternally appreciated.

A private gathering will be held sometime in May.