Archie Cornell

Archie B. Cornell, 97, of Elizabethtown, Illinois passed away at his home on Monday, October 14, 2024. He was born December 2, 1926 on the farm where he resided all of his life. He was the son of David and Rachel Joyner Cornell. Archie was part of a large family of children namely, Freda, Meredith, Versie, Millard, Garcie, Margie, Willburn, Nora, and Cleoma, who died as an infant. Archie’s father David died on December 21, 1935 from tuberculosis, leaving Rachel to raise the children on her own. Archie would tell stories about how hard they all had to work to survive through those hard times.

 Archie attended school in the old one-room country schools of Corinth, Sycamore, and Stone Church. He attended school at the McDowell School near Cave In Rock, Illinois for one year, while he was living with one of his older sisters. When Archie was fourteen, he got his first job working on Lewis Hoke’s farm driving a team of horses. Archie graduated from the Rosiclare Community High School. 

 After high school, Archie worked at Goetzman’s Store in Rosiclare and after that, he joined the United States Military, and served some time in the Philippines during World War II. He received an Asiatic-Pacific Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged on the 9th of December, 1946.

 Archie married Janet Potts, daughter of Norma Fowler Potts, on August 11, 1954. Archie and Janet raised five children: Danny Joe, Nancy Jane, Frank Twain, Archie Russell, and Wade Cole Cornell. As the kids got older Archie and Janet decided to build a new house in the early 1970s. They did a lot of the work themselves. They all worked hard in the garden and Archie raised cattle for many years. 

 In the early 1980s, Archie was able to buy a black mare named Black Diamond, so he could relax and enjoy trail rides again. She was a favorite of everyone and many of the grandchildren learned to ride on her. Archie and Janet started going to the Nine Day Trail Ride in Pope County about this time and they spent many years taking grandchildren and great-grandchildren every year.

 Archie worked at the Mine Rescue and he ran a Real Estate business for a few years. Archie was involved in a lot of activities throughout his life. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #1144 in Rosiclare, Illinois. He was involved with the Democratic party for many years. He and Janet were active and helpful in the Golden Circle Senior Citizens Center for several years. 

 Archie was always happy when his brothers and sisters and their families would come to visit. They would sit on the porch telling stories for hours. Archie liked to work on the farm; he didn’t really care what the job was as long as he was on a tractor and he was making some kind of improvement on the farm. He bought himself a little tractor a few years ago and he would bush-hog the front fields and the side of the road at 95 years of age. He also mowed his yard until a couple of years ago. In warm weather you would usually find him on the back porch in his swing looking down at the fields, watching the horses and cows.

 Archie is survived by his daughter, Nancy Smith and sons, Frank (Denise), Russ, and Wade (Donna); his grandchildren, David (Melinda) Cornell and children: Leaf, Ivy, & Chase, Virinda (John) Griffitts, Danielle Cornell, Bretteni (Omar) Hernandez and children: Ellie, Emerson, Hollyn & Henley, Austin Cornell, Ross Cornell, Benjamin Cornell and children: Falon and Cash, Cheyenne (Dylan) Bloodworth and son Waylon, Justin (Christina) Cornell and children: Hadley and Aubry Jade, Andrew (Brooklyn) Cornell and children: Ryker and Harlyn, Jessica (Wyatt) Roberts and son Jase Keifer, Chelsea (Mitch) Jacobs, Kalin (Rachel) Benjamin and children: Kenna and Kale, Jana Adams (Justin Trago) and daughter Everleigh, and Dustin Adams; many great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and two more on the way; one brother, Wilbur Cornell; and many nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janet Cornell, on August 22, 2014; sons, David Parker and Danny Joe Cornell; son-in-law, Hardin “Butch” Smith; his oldest granddaughter, Shannon Diane Cornell Raymond; and 8 siblings.

 Services will be held Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Hardin County Funeral Service in Rosiclare, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until time of the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. A Masonic Service will be held during the funeral by the Rosiclare Masonic Lodge #1144. Burial will be in Stone Church Cemetery. The Paul C. Rowan American Legion Post #571 will provide Military Rites at the cemetery.