Mary E. Cornell

Mary E. Cornell, 78, of Lafayette, died at 1 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, at her residence.
She was born May 5, 1932, in West Point, and was the daughter of the late Edward Spence and Mary Sharon Swank.
On Jan. 21, 1950, she married Lee E. Cornell in Lafayette. He died Jan. 6, 1980.
Mrs. Cornell had been a banquet cook at Best Western for 25 years before retiring in 2009.
She was a member of Good Shepherd Baptist Church and Moose Lodge and enjoyed gardening, bowling and cooking.
Surviving are three daughters, Lacinda Haas (husband: Ava)of Lafayette, Derina Sparger (husband: Doug) of West Lafayette, Lana Orr (husband: Joseph) of New Richmond; a son, David A. Cornell of Lafayette; two sisters, Dorothy Gray of West Lafayette and Phyllis Christenberry of Wayntown; and a brother, Lawerence Spence of Lafayette.
Also surviving are 12 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by a grandson, Alan L. Cornell, and 2 brothers, Dick and Walter “Bud” Spence.
Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 2010, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel with a funeral service at 1 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2010, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, IN 47909. Pastor James E. Chase will be officiating. Burial will follow at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.