Frances was born on October 16, 1921 in Genoa Arkansas to Florence and Benjamin Purifoy. She was raised on a farm and was the 3rd of 11 children. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Genoa Central High school where she played basketball. She attended business college in Texarkana before enlisting in the Women’s Army Corp in February of 1943. She became a First Sargent Administrative NCO where she supervised and directed the administration of a 70 WAC company. Frances met her husband James Harvey Cornett volunteering at the USO in Texarkana Texas and they corresponded throughout World War II. After they were both honorably discharged, they married on April 20, 1946. She and James had four children. They relocated to Austin from Longview in 1966. They became active members of Hyde Park Baptist church where she taught Sunday school, training union and vacation bible school. Along with raising her children, she was employed in Secretarial Administration with the Austin Independent School District for over 20 years. After her retirement she and James traveled and enjoyed time at their lake properties. She doted on her grandchildren and they enjoyed many visits to Nana and Dat’s home. Her children and grandchildren also shared many vacations, camping and fishing.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years James, her granddaughter Brittney Sonnier, her parents Benjamin and Florence and 7 siblings.
She is survived by her children James Reavis Cornett and wife Kathy of Caldwell, Ryan Lindsey Cornett and wife Brenda of Georgetown, Sandra Cornett Pentecost and husband Dusty of Old River, and Janet Cornett Gummerman of Austin. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
A visitation for Frances will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752, followed by a funeral service from 11:00 AM.
