Elizabeth (Bette Jane) J. Cornwell Obituary (1922 - 2011)

Elizabeth J. (Bette Jane) Cornwell, longtime co-publisher of the Murray Eagle and the Green Sheet newspapers, passed away on June 7, 2011 at the age of 88. Her death was attributed to dementia. She was president of Utah Press Association in 1983-84, at that time only the second woman to be elected to lead the organization, which was then more than a century old. Born November 15, 1922 in Ord., NE, she was a daughter of Edward L. and Amelia Vogeltanz. Following high school commencement in her hometown, where she was valedictorian, she graduated from St. Mary’s (Kansas) College (now the University of St. Mary) and did graduate work at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. She was affiliated with the Division of Inter-American Affairs of the State Department in Washington, D.C. before resigning in 1946 to become a high school social studies teacher in North Platte, NE. She and her husband, Jim, who she married on June 5, 1948, became co-publishers of the Register in Stanton, NE in 1949, selling it and purchasing the Murray newspaper in 1955. They created the Green Sheet group in 1958. In 1984 Mrs. Cornwell was the first Utah newspaper woman to receive the annually given Emma McKinney Award of National Newspaper Association. She was also the recipient of both UPA’s Master Editor and Publisher and John E. Jones Awards. Among activities in several community organizations, she served as Vice Chairman of the Murray Education Foundation and as an officer of Murray Jayceettes. She was also an officer of the Altar Society of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and a member of its Parish Council as well as a Trustee of Judge Memorial High School. She was a volunteer teacher at Murray’s alternative Bonneyview High School, was active in the Assistance League of Salt Lake City and a two-term President of its Act III singing group. She was a skilled Bridge player and also enjoyed golf and attending high school and U of U athletic events. Avid travelers, she and her husband visited five continents and all fifty of the United States. Preceded in death by her daughter, Cathleen (Thorsen), she is survived by her husband, daughter Christine White, Idaho Falls, ID and son Charles (wife Marisol) of Sandy. Also surviving are grandsons Matthew White of Idaho Falls; Tim (wife Krista) and Jared Thorsen all of Burlington, KY; granddaughter Angela (Gneiting) and great-granddaughter Clara Gneiting, all of Idaho Falls and a sister, Rosellen Staats, of Greenbrae, CA. Her family expresses great appreciation to the staff of Silverado Senior Living, where she was a multi-year resident. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 10, 2011 at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m.; interment will follow at Murray City Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests you make a donation to the charity of your choice in Bette’s name.