He was born on September 17, 1931 in Charlotte, North Carolina. After graduating from high school he spent 5 years in the U. S. Navy on the USS Gainard destroyer. He held a degree in accounting. He was a respected business owner of Go-Vending Service in Charlotte, NC and Cocoa, FL. He was a Master Mason and Past Master of the Charles M. Setzer Lodge #693 in Charlotte, NC; member of the Scottish Rite, and in 1990 he was Potentate of the Azan Shriners Center in Melbourne, FL. He was Chairman of the Azan Toy Run for the Shrine Children care program and Circus Chairman for the Azan circus presentation. He was President of SCANA in 1998, President of the Florida Shrine Association in 2004, a member of the Knights Templar, an Imperial Aide for the Shrine for many years, and a member of the Royal Order of Jesters.
They visited all 50 states, loved cruising in their RV, and travelled the globe. On their trip to Germany in 1990, they brought back an actual piece of the Berlin wall.
In his youth, he drove a school bus and trained short legged beagles for hunting. One of those beagles was sold to Billy Graham.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Esther Cornelison and sister (Merlene Cornelison)
He leaves behind his devoted wife of 38 years, Shirley Cornelison, daughter Jill Cornelison (Marcia Bryant-Cornelison), son Dan Cornelison (Kay), brother Frank Cornelison (Patsy), niece Cathy Smith (Kevin) and nephew (Bill Cornelison), stepdaughter Susan Stoll (Gregg), stepson David Thrift (Teresa), grandchildren Curtis, Alex, and Anna-Claire Cornelison and Kevin Thrift, great-grandchildren Layla and Gemma Cornelison, cousin Dorothy Lawless, and two Yorkies, BeeGee and Trinity.
A graveside service will be held for Leo at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC on Friday the 16th of July, 2021 at 3:00PM.
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