Carolyn Christian Cornette, 80, passed away peacefully in her home at 2000 Pinehurst Drive, Ames, Iowa, on Jan 7, 2016, after an 18-month bout with lung cancer.
There will be a Visitation on Friday, Jan. 15 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Gathering Place in the Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames.
A Memorial Service for Carolyn will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m. at the church. The service will be followed by a lunch in the church's Wesley Hall.
Jimmye Carolyn Christian was born November 6, 1935 to William Terrill and Frances (Collins) Christian in Claude, Texas. She graduated from Claude High School in 1953 and from West Texas State College in 1956 and taught elementary school for six years in New Mexico.
She then married James Lawson Cornette on April 21, 1962 and moved to Ames in August 1962 where James joined the Department of Mathematics at Iowa State University.
Carolyn's next 54 years were guided by her interest in people of all stripes. She often said that every person has a story, and she tried her best to find it.
This may; have been stimulated by being raised on a ranch 14 miles from the nearest town of 800 people, but it was also a genetic trait that she inherited from her mother.
She was also a life-long sports fan, as well as an outstanding high school basketball player. She played guard on the three-time, six-a-side Class B Texas state champion Claude Mustangettes her sophomore, junior and senior years She was named to the All-State team her senior year.
In spite of having played in nail-biters, Carolyn could never sit still when watching a close game in any sport. Whenever things got too close for her comfort, she would leave her seat and retreat to the concourse area and pace - until she thought it might be safe to return to the game.
In 1974 she and Georgene Shank opened "The Clothesline" a successful consignment clothing store that they operated for 12 years.
In July 1985 Carolyn and James moved to Bethesda, Maryland, where James had a Faculty Improvement Leave to work in the Laboratory of Mathematical Biology in the National Cancer Institute. They stayed until August 1987 and returned again in summer of 1988.
During this time, Carolyn spent her first month being a tourist. Then she started attending Congressional hearings and caught the bug. Her next stop was Sen. Charles Grassley's office, where she volunteered to work - for free.
She spent three weeks filing papers before she was hired as a receptionist - a job for which she was eminently suited - if only because she asked visitors about themselves.
She worked for the Senator for three years. She was also selected to accompany Grassley for three years as he brought international diplomats for weeklong visits to Iowa.
Between 1988 and 1993, the Cornettes spent six summers and two semesters in Boston where James was a collaborator with scientists at Boston University. Not surprisingly, Carolyn quickly found work as a volunteer at WGBH (public television and radio).
Back in Ames, Carolyn decided to open a store that would sell interesting (some educational) games and toys for children and travel books and equipment for travellers. This was "Explore," which she owned and operated for more than 12 years - and which served everyone from teenage tourists to employees of Barilla who wanted to know more about the U.S. - or how to get to Italy.
Carolyn was especially proud of her selection of maps - which made Explore "the largest map store between Kansas City and Minneapolis." The store became a "must visit" for anyone in the area interested in travelling abroad. But by 2004-05 she felt the competition from the Internet and big box stores and closed it in August 2006 - much to the sadness of her employees, who still meet monthly for coffee. As one put it, "Carolyn was the best boss I ever had."
She was also deeply interested in helping anyone who was either neglected or in need of a boost of some kind. That's why she joined A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS), a group that focuses on social justice issues. She arranged fundraisers for AMOS, but also most enjoyed being involved in "Project Iowa" which helps direct unemployed or underemployed participants into careers that happen to be in demand, such as welding or health care.
Because she cared so much, she was often able to unlock doors and get donations where others might not have succeeded.
When she was diagnosed with cancer, Carolyn received amazing support from friends and family and the medical community. She knew what was coming, but she never stopped smiling and infecting others with her good cheer.
Her attitude inspired several visitors to regard Carolyn as a role model for their passage. She was, as one said, truly one of a kind.
The Collegiate Methodist Church was enormously important to Carolyn. She was a member for 53 years and worked in several capacities - ranging from providing coffee after services to serving on the Board of Directors. She worked extensively on three reentry teams who help women leaving prison integrate into society. Again, it was the people of the church that Carolyn cared about - and they cared about her.
Carolyn and her family are grateful to the Medical team at Bliss Cancer Center who managed her treatment, to the Mayo Clinic for an experimental trial, and to Mary Greeley Medical Center's Hospice care, who cared for Carolyn in her home until her peaceful end.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, James, their two children, James Terrill and Frances Elizabeth and seven grandchildren: Kyle Jay and Ryan Terrill Kirkman; Charlotte Anne, James Christian and Benjamin Lawson Cornette; and Andrew Jason and Ashley Nicole Lehmann.
Gifts may be sent to the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50014 or to A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy, 3700 Cottage Grove, Des Moines, Iowa 50311