Betty Marie Cornish
June 23, 1929 — June 26, 2023
Betty Marie Cornish of Eureka, died on Monday, June 26, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi St Francis Hospital, in Wichita, at the age of 94.
Betty was born on June 23, 1929, in Bloomfield, Iowa to Charles and Emma (Patterson) Richardson. She graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1947.
On November 26, 1948, Betty was united in marriage to John Williams Cornish in Linwood, Kansas. To this union, two children were born: a son by the name of John Henry Cornish and daughter Gloria Jean (Cornish) Baldwin. They made their home in Shawnee, Kansas. Betty worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for 23 years and in 1969 was awarded St. Luke’s Hospital Employee of the year. Prior to becoming a payroll supervisor for 5 years, she worked in just about every position in the business office. From 1970-1989, Betty worked as an employee relations coordinator at Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company and worked in the Equal Employment Opportunities division for 5+ years, writing affirmative action plans. In 1979, she served as Treasurer of the Greater Kansas City Affirmative Action Association and served on the advisory committee for the Kansas City Community College Services for the Handicapped. Additionally, in February of 1989, she was given the title of Employee Relations and Advertising Coordinator before retiring that same year. She spent her professional career clearing the way for women and minorities to be treated fairly in the workplace. No small undertaking in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Upon John’s retirement in 1986 from Santa Fe Pacific, he and Betty relocated to Gravois Mills, Missouri. They lived in their custom A-frame home on the corner at Twin Bays Resort for over twenty years, enjoying a relaxing life at the Lake of the Ozarks. John preceded Betty in death on January 20, 2000. After John’s passing, Betty later made her home in Eureka, Kansas with her daughter, Gloria from 2016 to 2023.
She was happiest when surrounded by her family, which proved easy and frequent with her residing in an attachment off of her daughter’s house. Morning chats over coffee for Gloria and an ice cold can of Coca-Cola for Betty were routine, typically centering around current events within the family. She especially delighted in observing the many different types of birds native to her new Flint Hills surroundings that would perch on feeders outside her window, her favorite being a Cardinal that would visit her daily. A lover of Walt Disney’s Snow White, Betty was an avid collector of anything themed with the beloved, animated film, most notably her complete set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves lawn statues.
Betty is survived by three grandchildren: Kimberly and husband, Kevin Anderson; Curt and wife, Kristen Coolidge; and John Anthony Coolidge; two great-grandchildren: Jadyn and Olivia Coolidge; and one sister Charlene Hoenshell. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John William Cornish; children, Gloria Jean Baldwin, and John Henry Cornish; and one sister, Ella Lucille Wyatt.
Family services will be held at a later date in both Eureka and the Kansas City area to facilitate friends and family from both areas. Cremation has been effected. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
Betty was born on June 23, 1929, in Bloomfield, Iowa to Charles and Emma (Patterson) Richardson. She graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1947.
On November 26, 1948, Betty was united in marriage to John Williams Cornish in Linwood, Kansas. To this union, two children were born: a son by the name of John Henry Cornish and daughter Gloria Jean (Cornish) Baldwin. They made their home in Shawnee, Kansas. Betty worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for 23 years and in 1969 was awarded St. Luke’s Hospital Employee of the year. Prior to becoming a payroll supervisor for 5 years, she worked in just about every position in the business office. From 1970-1989, Betty worked as an employee relations coordinator at Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company and worked in the Equal Employment Opportunities division for 5+ years, writing affirmative action plans. In 1979, she served as Treasurer of the Greater Kansas City Affirmative Action Association and served on the advisory committee for the Kansas City Community College Services for the Handicapped. Additionally, in February of 1989, she was given the title of Employee Relations and Advertising Coordinator before retiring that same year. She spent her professional career clearing the way for women and minorities to be treated fairly in the workplace. No small undertaking in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Upon John’s retirement in 1986 from Santa Fe Pacific, he and Betty relocated to Gravois Mills, Missouri. They lived in their custom A-frame home on the corner at Twin Bays Resort for over twenty years, enjoying a relaxing life at the Lake of the Ozarks. John preceded Betty in death on January 20, 2000. After John’s passing, Betty later made her home in Eureka, Kansas with her daughter, Gloria from 2016 to 2023.
She was happiest when surrounded by her family, which proved easy and frequent with her residing in an attachment off of her daughter’s house. Morning chats over coffee for Gloria and an ice cold can of Coca-Cola for Betty were routine, typically centering around current events within the family. She especially delighted in observing the many different types of birds native to her new Flint Hills surroundings that would perch on feeders outside her window, her favorite being a Cardinal that would visit her daily. A lover of Walt Disney’s Snow White, Betty was an avid collector of anything themed with the beloved, animated film, most notably her complete set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves lawn statues.
Betty is survived by three grandchildren: Kimberly and husband, Kevin Anderson; Curt and wife, Kristen Coolidge; and John Anthony Coolidge; two great-grandchildren: Jadyn and Olivia Coolidge; and one sister Charlene Hoenshell. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John William Cornish; children, Gloria Jean Baldwin, and John Henry Cornish; and one sister, Ella Lucille Wyatt.
Family services will be held at a later date in both Eureka and the Kansas City area to facilitate friends and family from both areas. Cremation has been effected. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
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