Jack Richard Cornett

In Loving Memory of Jack Richard Cornett

Jack Richard Cornett of Grants Pass departed this earth on April 12, 2016 after a tragic car accident. He was 72 years old. Jack was a native Oregonian born in Klamath Falls, Oregon on October 25, 1943 to Marianne (Carter) and Jack Donald Cornett. His mother and step-father, George Cooley, raised Jack in Klamath Falls where he grew up roaming the hills, swimming in the lake, and hunting and fishing with his boyhood friends. Jack graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1961.

Jack joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served for ten years throughout the Vietnam War. Following his time in the Navy, Jack joined the U.S. Coast Guard and entered into one of the proudest and most adventurous periods of his life. He was instrumental in saving 52 people’s lives and received medals and awards for his heroic efforts. Jack was commanding officer at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in California. He served in many locations and in many capacities during his 14 years in the Coast Guard. He rose to be a Warrant Officer by the time of his retirement from the Coast Guard in 1985. Jack loved being in the Coast Guard, and his friends and family never grew tired of hearing about his adventures at sea.

Following his military career, Jack took advantage of the G.I. Bill and began attending college, first at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass, and later Southern Oregon University where he graduated with honors after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in English.

After completing his degree, Jack went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk in Williams, Oregon. Within 3 years, he was promoted to Postmaster of Azalea, Oregon where he served for 6 years. He later served another 6 years as Postmaster of Glendale, Oregon. Jack finished his Postal career as Postmaster of Murphy, Oregon where he worked for 10 years before retiring in 2012. Jack loved his little community in Murphy, and through his kindness and compassion he touched the lives of many of the people he served there.

In his youth Jack was an enthusiastic and accomplished athlete who competed in basketball, volleyball, tennis, and long distance running. His latest and most satisfying (and frustrating) sport was golf. Jack loved to golf. He looked forward to his Sunday golf game all week long, but as much as he loved golf, he loved his golf buddies more. He played in the same foursome for nearly 15 years. He was also a passionate fan of the Oregon Ducks football team. For the past 10 years, the greeting on Jack’s cell phone ended with “Go Ducks!”

In 1986, Jack met his wife Trish and together they began an epic love story that lasted nearly 30 years, right up to the moment of Jack’s death. When they were married, Jack had 3 children from a previous marriage-George, Todd and Liberty. Trish also had 3 children from a previous marriage-Jason, Justin and Talitha. Together, Trish and Jack had one son, Joseph Andrew Cornett. Jack embraced all seven of these children as his own, and he deeply loved each of them. Jack and Trish also have nine grandchildren, and Jack was excited to meet his first great granddaughter who will be born in early September.

Jack is survived by his wife Trish Cornett. Also surviving are his sons George, Todd and Joseph Cornett, Jason and Justin Lines, as well as his daughters Talitha Rollins and Liberty Cornett. Jack’s surviving grandchildren are Elizabeth and Zoli Rollins, Drew, Dahlia, Carter, Zinnia, Audrey, Brandon, and Elle Lines. Also surviving is Jack’s sister Annette Snow of Roseburg. He was preceded in death by his younger sister Elizabeth Pyke of Medford.

Jack’s family and many friends are heartbroken that he has been so abruptly taken from us. We will never forget or ever stop loving him. He was a man renowned for his kindness, courage and integrity. Each of us is a better person because he touched our lives. The best way to honor Jack Richard Cornett is to extend a little kindness to others and make the world a better place, as he did each day of his life.

There will be a celebration of Jack’s life at the Tom Pearce Park pavilion on Saturday April 23rd at 2:00 PM. Dress is casual. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

Jack’s family would like to extend special thanks to Gary and Roxanne Poulton, Jim and Sandy Divine, Kris Vannoy and Claude Neuenschwander who have tenderly comforted, cared for and supported us during the most difficult passage of our lives.