Donald E. Cornell

Donald E. Cornell, 75, of Murphysboro, passed away at his residence in Murphysboro, Illinois, at 6:25 p.m. Friday, October 21, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2011, at Pettett Funeral Home with Rev. Earl Renshaw and Rev. Larry Gilbert officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church or the Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County. Mr. Cornell's body will be cremated and a gravesite service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, where military services will be conducted by the American Legion Post # 127, V.F.W. Post # 7190 and 2605, and the Jackson County D.A.V. Chapter # 69. Donald was born on July 5, 1936, in Long Beach, CA, to Donald D. Cornell and Margaret J. (Greiner) Cornell. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox. Donald was a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier for twenty eight years. Mr. Cornell was a member of the United Methodist Church in Murphysboro and the Elks Lodge. He used to duck hunt and he was a member of the N.R.A. He loved the Packers and he liked to read. Don was probably most known for his participation at the Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County, where he had been a family member, who had a resident at the nursing home, an employee, a volunteer, and he himself was eventually a resident of the Care Center. When Don became involved at the nursing home, the staff became his extended family and they had enjoyed many years of friendship. He married Rosemary (Lawhorn) on September 12, 2006, in Law Vegas, NV and she survives. Other survivors include one step son Seth Buschschulte of Murphysboro; one sister and brother in law Mary and John Dean of Louisville, KY; one nephew and his wife John and Debbie Ramsey of Paducah, KY; one niece and her husband Jana and Willy Liao of Clearwater, FL; and two great nephews Harrison Ramsey of Paducah, KY and Drew Eric Liao of Clearwater, FL; his mother in law Mary Cook of Murphysboro; four sister in laws and four brother in laws Barbara Downey of Murphysboro, Mary Miller and Kenny Sanders, both of Mayfield, KY, Patricia Lawhorn, Ginger Mason, Robert Robinson, and Cliff Johnson, all of Murphysboro, and Paul Johnson of DuQuoin; He was preceded in death by his parents. The family would like to thank the staff of the Rehab and Care Center, his church family, and the community for the unparalleled love and support that was given to Don and his family.

Donald E. Cornell

July 5, 1936 - October 21, 2011