- Visitation
There is no visitation.
- Service
There is no service.
- Full Obituary
Mrs. Jean Prefontaine Cornell was born in San Francisco, California, July 8,1910 and passed away February 10, 2008 at Lebanon's Cedar Ridge Health Center. Jean was the daughter of George and Lillian Prefontaine. She grew up in the Twin Peaks area of San Francisco and attended Tamalpais High School graduating with honors as class Valedictorian. In 1927 she attended San Francisco State Teacher's College, and left school on July 5, 1928 to marry Donald McNair Cornell. Her husband, an aviator, conducted operations from various airfields around California, and later his work took them to Honolulu, Hawaii as Operations Officer for the Hawaiian Airways, and to Kansas City, Missouri where he piloted Tri-motor passenger planes with Western Air Express. They moved to Tulare, California in the late 1930's where they built an airport and established an aviation business in aircraft sales and pilot training programs. In 1941, Jean earned her own private pilot's license. Her husband preceded her in death in 1982. Jean is survived by her four sons and their wives: Donald McNair Jr. and Betty Jo (Smith) Cornell; David Morgan and Lynette (Gleaves) Cornell; Gerald Eugene and Sharon Elaine (Woodward) Cornell; Gordon Clay and Franceene (Garner) Cornell. In addition she is survived by ten grandchildren and their families: Kimberly and Leo Killingbeck; Donald McNair III and Cyndee Cornell; Carrie Jean and Mark Christ; Stanley and Patricia Cornell; John and Mary Cornell; David and Alexa Cornell; M. Shawn and Elizabeth Cornell; Kyle and Coleen Cornell; Bryan and Cindy Cornell; and Aaron and Julie Cornell. In addition, she is survived by 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Jean moved from California to Lebanon, Illinois in 1977 to be near her family and lived there until 1999 when she moved to the Highland Retirement Home in Highland, IL. Jean will be buried in a private ceremony at College Hill Cemetery next to her beloved husband of 55 years. She is dearly loved by her family, and will be greatly missed.
Meyer Funeral Home, Lebanon, IL
Memorials for Jean may be made to the Highland Home, 1600 Walnut St. Highland, IL 62249.
