Viola ‘Louise’ Cornelius

On Sunday, August 9, 2020, Viola “Louise” Cornelius, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, passed away at age 91 in Springfield, Missouri.

Louise was born on September 30, 1928 in Diggins, Missouri to Thurman J and Ruth Morehouse. She was united in marriage to Elmer Carl Cornelius on June1, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland where he was serving his country during WWII at Fort Mead.

Louise was an avid seamstress and sewed uniforms for soldiers during WWII. She continued to sew her entire life, creating fashionable clothing for her daughters and granddaughters to enjoy. Louise also enjoyed playing her guitar and piano and singing old-time Ozark folk songs. In 1976, she was recorded singing and playing her guitar by Max Hunter, a music professor at then SMSU, so that these songs would not be lost to time. (maxhunter.missouristate.edu) Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her large family, and in recent years, attending church with her sister, Ruby. They loved singing and reminiscing about their lives and their families.
Louise is survived by her four children, Carlene Austin and her husband, Harold, of Billings; John Cornelius, of Greenfield; Dale Cornelius and his wife Pamela, of Dadeville; Lori Kosma and her husband Dale, of Springfield; grandchildren, (with spouses in parentheses) Stephanie Obiyo (Robert), Melinda Lindsay (Kevin), Nathan Cornelius (Natalya), Rylan Cornelius, Derek Cornelius and Amber Sims; great grandchildren, Kristi Witt, Aaron Hamilton, Billie Hamilton (Heidi), Wesley Parnell, Kevin Parnell, Tori Parnell, Nolan Cornelius, Derek Cornelius II, Stella Sims and Thomas Sims; great-great grandchildren Ivan, Lorelai, Adaline, Eleanor and Helen Hamilton.

She is also survived by her sisters, Ruby Powell and Virginia Ouelette (Ed); her brothers Wayne Morehouse (Dodie), Bud Johnson (Pam), David Morehouse (Gladys), and Dale Morehouse. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Elmer Cornelius, her parents, brother Larry Morehouse, sisters Loretta Cook (Elvin) & Hazel Kennemer (Vernon) and brothers-in-law Bob Powell, and Bob Blevins.

Graveside services were held on August 22, in Springfield, Missouri at Greenlawn North cemetery. A long-time resident of Dade County, she will be missed by everyone who knew this sweet example of a Christian woman, but especially by her family members.