James Reagan "Jim" Cornelius

Jim Cornelius passed away on October 21, 2024, at his home in Beaumont, Texas. Jim was born in 1932 in a little place called Hope, Arkansas. After residing in several towns in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Jim moved to Beaumont, Texas, in 1949. He graduated from Beaumont High School in 1950 and attended Lamar University.

In 1951, Jim married Patsy Clawson for a lifelong relationship that had all the love, soul mate, best friend, and confidant a marriage could have. Three children were born from their relationship, Deborah Sue, Pamela Jean, and Karry Lynn.

Jim was employed by Gulf States Utilities Company in 1957 and retired in 1994. Most of his career involved the purchase of land and for land rights for GSU operations, extending from Caldwell, Texas to Sorento, Louisiana. It was the best job, with one of the best companies that one could work for. It provided access to the entire service area of GSU, a good number of his fellow employees, and contact with an equal number of the people residing in the same service area. After retirement, Jim did contract work for a number of Oil Companies, contractors, and Entergy Texas.

Jim is proceeded in death by his wife, Pat Cornelius. 

He is survived by his daughters, Deborah, Pam and husband James Edwards, and Karry and husband, Claude Whitaker, granddaughters, Megan Ferguson, Summer Romero, Brooke Barclay, grandsons, Dustin Edwards, Kaz Edwards, and Clint Whitaker. His great-grandchildren are Sean Edwards, Ali Edwards, and Mattie Edwards, Scout Edwards and Noah Edwards, Paisley Romero, Talon Romero, Ella Dupuy, Kali Barclay, Slade Barclay, Beckett Whitaker, Gray Whitaker, Griffin Whitaker, and McKinley Ferguson.

 A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 1pm to 2pm at Claybar Kelley Watkins Funeral Home, 1155 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas. Following the visitation, a graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park at 2:30 pm.

 Pallbearers will be Justin Romero, Clint Whitaker, Matt Barclay, Dustin Edwards, and Kaz Edwards.