Leeander Cornelius

Leeander Donald Cornelius, 86, died Friday, February 16, 2018. He was born in Garrard County on June 25, 1931 to the late Lawrence Burnam and Cora Ella Gilliam Cornelius. Donald was a farmer. He attended Calvary Hill Baptist Church. Donald loved bluegrass music. He sang, played the guitar, mandolin, and harmonica and could play just about anything. He was a Ford man, loved his family and music and lived his life with God. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a daughter, Jill Cornelius Rice, grandsons, Lucas Scott and Lucas Gennette, great-granddaughter, Madison, six sisters, Lois Sebastian, Barbara Newby, Fances Centers, Maydrew Davis, Mildred Cornelius, Dovie Noel and five brothers, Bill, Mason, Cecil, Buck and Jay Cornelius.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Corine Tungate Cornelius; a son Dallas Scott McCarty; four daughters, Deborah Jean Noe, Karen (Jim) Lowe, Velvet Angela (John) Miller, Angela Lee (Robert) Beard; two brothers, Jack Cornelius, Joe Cornelius; a sister Marie Keyser; fifteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be at 11am, Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Stith Funeral Home, Junction City. Officiated by Rev. Terry Cornish. Pallbearers will be Tom Bentley, Paul Rice, Jerry Petrie, Vernon Campbell, John Miller and Robert Beard. Honorary pallbearers will be Gile Cochran, Dr. Colin Ratierre and Charlie Fields. Interment will be in Danville Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be after 5pm, Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the funeral home in Junction City.