Helen Lee Cornelius

May 3, 1933 - February 6, 2022

Helen Lee Cornelius (age 88) passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at her daughter’s home in Mustang, OK surrounded by her loved ones. She was born May 3, 1933 in Portland, OR to Robert E. and Helen Katherine White McGary. Lee grew up in Lake Oswego, OR and graduated high school from Lincoln High School in Portland, OR in 1951. After high school, she attended the University of Oregon majoring in Language and Arts and graduated in 1956 after touring Europe for one year. After graduation, she returned to Germany and became an Army Special Services Club Director where she met and later married J Paul Cornelius on September 2, 1960 in Windsheim, Germany. They were blessed in this union with three sons and one daughter. They were happily married for 58 years. Lee enjoyed art, reading, traveling, playing the piano and was a consummate gardener. After extensive travel throughout Europe and the United States, Lee and Paul settled in Duncan, OK in January 1973, where she worked for the City of Duncan as the city draftsman until her retirement in 1988. She then moved back to Germany until 1991. Lee and Paul retired to a house overlooking Lake Tenkiller where she resided until her passing. She was preceded in death by her husband, J Paul Cornelius; her parents, Robert E. and Helen Katherine White McGary; one brother, Robert M. McGary; and one son, Mark Andrew Cornelius. Lee is survived by a son, John Christopher Cornelius, OKC, OK; a son, Matthew Kelly Cornelius, Vian, OK; and a daughter, Katherine Lee (Kitty) Cornelius, Mustang, OK, 5 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and a number of other relatives. A family conducted memorial service will be held at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery on February 22, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. She will be laid to rest with her husband, J Paul following the service. Cremation services provided by Cornerstone Funeral Home 1830 N York St Muskogee, OK 74403. Condolences can be made to the family at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com.