Leonard Herff Cornelius passed away September 19, 2013 at home surrounded by his children. He was born August 19, 1926 in Markham, Texas to the late W. D. Cornelius and Mary Ethel Johnson Cornelius. He lived his entire life in Matagorda County with the exception of residing in Australia for 3 years with his family.
He was a lifelong rancher and a true man of his word. He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church; past director of Southwest Texas Cattle Raisers Association; member of Matagorda County Cattlemen's Association; member of Kansas Cattlemen's Association and a number of other organizations.
His sister Annabelle Cobb and brother Daniel Cornelius preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of over 66 years, Bettie Lou Cornelius; brother Simon Cornelius; children Donna Harrison & husband George, Debbie Reed & husband Bob, Bonnie Elbel & husband David, Melody Sanders & husband Ken, Amy McLeod & husband Mack, Herff Cornelius & wife Nancy, Brenda Rider & husband Bill, Connie Coney & husband Jeff and Mary Nuala Brown; grandchildren Jennifer Ligums & husband Jeb, Tres Hovel & wife Tania, Robby Reed & wife Stephanie, Rick Reed & Fiance' Casey, Randi Walker & husband Marshall, Brian Elbel & wife Sarah, Kathrin Campise & husband David, Michael Reitz & wife Amber, Brandon Reitz & wife Barbara, Michelle Weathers & husband Stephen, Jake McLeod & wife Pam, Len Cornelius & wife Savannah, Sara Cornelius & fiance' Michael, Brant Rider, Blake Rider, Braden Rider, Kimberlee Rodriguez & husband Adam, Rebecca Coney and Avery Coney; great grandchildren Jet and George Ligums , Robert Reed III, Ruger Reed, Weston, Finley, Hattie and Chloe Walker , Ellis Elbel, Tristan and Kristan Campise , Brooke and Brylie Reitz, Grady and Lucy Weathers , Lila McLeod, and Wyatt Cornelius; numerous nieces and nephews and many great friends.
The Cornelius family would like to express special thanks to Susan and Doug Ryman, Nelly and Simona, Angels Care Home Health, Andrea, Dr. Dada, Dee, Doretha and Gloria.
A rosary will be recited by Allen Green at 5:30 Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 followed by visitation from 6pm until 7pm at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be 2:00 PM Sunday, September 22, 2013 at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Rev. Greg Korenek and Msgr. Gerry Cernoch officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tres Hovel, Robby Reed, Rick Reed, Brian Elbel, Michael Reitz, Brandon Reitz, Jake McLeod, Len Cornelius, Brant Rider, Blake Rider, Branden Rider and Avery Coney. Honorary pallbearers will be Clyde McKinney, Warren Criswell, Billy Burton and Bert Huebner. Please consider memorials in his name to Holy Cross Catholic School; 2001 Katy; Bay City, TX 77414. American Cancer Society or Alzheimer's Association. "THE COWBOY RIDES AWAY"