Thomas "Tommy" L. Cornwell

Thomas ‘Tommy’ L. Cornwell was born to Thomas H. and Lila K. Cornwell on March 2, 1931, at Glasgow, Mont. He went to school there and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1949. He grew up at Cornwell Ranch under the feet of his grandfather, learning to repair machinery, buildings or anything that was broken.

Tommy married Mary Lou Hines on June 4, 1951. Throughout their marriage, Mary supported him in his many occupations. He worked for Newton Motors and the US Post Office. Tommy and his family moved to Harrison, Mont., to work on a ranch. Next he joined in partnership with his folks on a dairy at Charlo, Mont., for 10 years. During his time in Charlo, he was president of the Montana Dairymen’s Association for four years.

After the family’s time in Charlo, they moved to Jerome, Idaho, where Tommy worked for Standard Chemical, selling animal nutrition products in Idaho, Utah and Oregon. While continuing to live in Jerome, Tommy went on to sell farm buildings and feed processing systems for Agri-Systems. He was then hired by Cominco American as the manager of their Waverly, Wash., fertilizer plant. After seven years, they transferred him to California to manage their Industrial Chemical Sales to water treatment plants and wineries. In 1986, the Bank of Fairfield in Fairfield, Wash., hired him to be their Ag. rep where he served as vice president. He worked there for 21 years.

In 2007, Tommy retired and he and Mary moved to Emmett, Idaho. He loved his shop and tools, woodworking, metal working and especially his “little” John Deere tractors and machines. Tommy was a Life Member of the Waverly, Washington Masonic Lodge F & A.M. 31, a member of the Scottish Rite and El Katif Shrine in Spokane, Wash., as well as a member and board member of the Emmett Lions Club. He loved hunting and fishing. Tommy passed away on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, at a hospital in Emmett.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Daniel Lee.

Tommy is survived by his wife, Mary, of 68 years; two sons, Jim and his wife, Nina, and Gary and his wife, Kim; one daughter, Val and her husband Pete Jones; one sister, Cretia “Chris” Vaughn, of Glasgow; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.