Rex W. Cornett

Rex W. Cornett, 72, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2008 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born on December 11, 1935 in Cherryvale, KS, the son of John A. and Gladys O. Trester Cornett. The family then moved to Burrton, KS, where he completed grade school. After returning to Cherryvale, he graduated from Cherryvale High School in 1953. He then attended the Independence, KS Junior College and completed two years of college. Rex served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, after which he attended Pittsburg State College in Pittsburg, KS. During his school years, he worked at a drug store, grocery stores, building silos and did farm work. Rex worked for the Bureau of the Census in Parsons, KS from 1959-1961, where he met his wife, Dolores A. Hedrick. They were married on May 27, 1960 at the First United Methodist Church in Parsons. His last employment was the Kansas Department of Human Resources from which he retired in 1994. Rex was a member of the Crestview United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Jack, two sisters, Joan Collins and Betty Farrell, and a niece, Christy Cornett. Survivors include his wife of the home, a son, Douglas (Patty) Cornett of Topeka and a daughter, Kimberly (Jim) Fay of Towanda, KS. He is also survived by three grandsons, a granddaughter, four brothers, Bill (Charn) Cornett of Burrton, KS, Bob (Betty) Cornett of Muskogee, OK, Tom (Debbie) Cornett of Independence, KS, Michael (Sharon) Cornett of Texas City, TX and a sister, Carolyn Raetz of Cherryvale, KS. Also surviving are many nephews and nieces. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 S.W. Wanamaker Rd. Burial will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, 3616 S.W. 6th Ave. Rex will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Midland Hospice Care, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606 or the Cotton-O'Neil Cancer Center, 1414 S.W. 8th St., Topeka, KS 66606.