LaMae Cornell

Too many people cruise through life without knowing who they want to be when they grow up.  Some people never grow up, while some are too boring to venture out, but we knew and loved someone who challenged that mold.  Born March 30th, 1941 to Arden George Cornell and Ellen Rae Child in Ogden, UT - a sister to siblings Howard and Kay, and a mother to Michael, RuthAnn, and Laurie - Ann Cornell knew what she wanted to become in life: a Collector.  She collected interests and hobbies.  Ann collected insights and experiences.  Ann collected memories.   Understanding Ann Cornell is as easy as understanding yourself.  What do you like?  What makes you, you?  Because with Ann, there was never a shortage of interests, hobbies, or collections.  In fact, Ann appreciated and enjoyed such a great variety of interests - like bursting out into song at the sound of a single word, gardening (especially her tulips), and always wanting to take advantage of what nature had to offer - that every person she spent time with gravitated toward her because they discovered a new friend.  Spending time with Ann felt like a grade school playdate, snacks included, and that's just how she wanted it.  So almost without trying, she collected admiration and friends.  But Ann wasn't just fluff, she collected knowledge.  She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Master's in Psychology and graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She always shared what she studied and knew; how to make an impression, how to get over heartache, or even on several occasions, how to hide an "accidental" murder.  We're still pretty sure she was joking.  Most parents or grandparents at their passing are remembered for their "kindness" or "living life to the fullest."  It wasn't that Ann wasn't caring or didn't live her life to its potential, it's that saying those things about her would be too boring.  She regularly handed out gag gifts and we have the fingerless gloves that look like underpants to prove it.  Ann cracked jokes and regularly dished out witty one-liners, even until the very end when she could barely get them out.  She naturally and effortlessly collected cheer and respect.  Ann was proudly responsible for three children, 21 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.  She loved every member of her family and refused to waiver on the amount.  Ann wasn't just the matriarch of our family; she was our glue.  Every great team has one; the player who keeps their team together and will actually fight anyone who threatens to break the team apart.  We couldn't lose with her calling the shots and now we need to figure out a way to keep winning without her playmaking ability.  She raised us all to be competitive and headstrong like any great manager would.  And we know that without even trying, she collected love.  So finally, on Thursday, January 21st, 2021, she collected her experiences, memories, and a life well-lived and returned to her Heavenly Father without a fuss.  We love you Ann - Mom, Gram, Grannie Annie, and Heaven's newest addition to the ultimate collection of loved ones. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 at Leavitt's Mortuary 836 36th Street, Ogden, Utah from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm.  The funeral services will follow by invitation for family members. To send flowers to LaMae's family, please visit our floral store.