Donald Edwin Cornett

Donald Edwin Cornett, born 2-27-37 in Wendover Kentucky, lost his life in a traffic accident just west of Rosenberg, Fort Bend County, Texas on Tuesday, 10-14-25. He was 88. Don was traveling home from a doctor visit.

Don lived with his wife, Katherine, for many years in and around New Ulm, in Austin and Colorado counties.

Having owned property in Colorado County since the early 70’s, it was a short move into New Ulm proper in 1990, where Don and Kat embedded themselves into the community and created a wonderful life surrounded by family, friends and colleagues.

Don had just retired from a first career with Exxon where he’d lived in New Orleans, Houston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Anchorage and finally, returned to Houston. Broadly talented, he worked in the production, marine, environmental, legislative and public affairs areas of Exxon. Don’s life changed dramatically during his time in Anchorage when he met Katherine, who was a successful banker. They’d discovered a future with each other and returned to Texas for the last leg of Don’s career and the adventure of life in the country west of Houston.

The move to New Ulm began a second career in real estate where Don was a realtor-broker and Accredited Land Consultant with Bill Johnson Real Estate in Bellville, Austin County, Texas. Don attacked real estate like he attacked most challenges. He brought intelligence, intensity and integrity to his work resulting in solid achievement. He was respected and appreciated as a colleague and resource in the real estate community and recognized multiple times as top agent and producer. Don paralleled his real estate work with ranching. For many years, his passion for Charolais cattle would find him working on his breeding program, his barns, houses and making hay.

Don was the second-oldest of five from a tightly-connected and loving family. He emerged in the mid-50’s as a teenager from the mountain community of Camp Creek near Wendover, Leslie County, Kentucky. He was about to become a man on fire with ambition. He finished his grade schooling early, actually taught school for a short while, and then headed to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. “The Harvard of the Appalachians” challenged him and kept him occupied not only with academic work, but jobs in the college dairy barn, and waiting tables at the Boone Tavern. But life had plans for Don, and 1957 saw him on course for DeLand, Florida, with a new wife and a baby on the way. To provide, he took on work as a sacker at the A&P grocery store by night, and engineering draftsman at the State of Florida road department by day. Then, he truly caught fire at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The next four years saw Don earn three degrees including undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, with honors. The following decades through the late 80’s were all about career and family commencing with that first stop in New Orleans.

If anything distinguished Don’s most productive years, it was work. He loved to work, loved to see other people work and loved to see success come as the reward of hard work. He saw days as opportunities to check off a list of chores, make progress on a project and plan for future work. Don needed a sign by his front door that said, “Welcome to New Ulm. Let’s get to work.” That work ethic was instilled by his father, Hobert, who was, himself a paragon of hard work.

But Don was also a man who enjoyed rich social engagement, dancing, great food, travel and humor. He was notable for telling and appreciating a joke or funny story with a contagious laugh. All of these large times, the work and the play, he enjoyed with Kat, his steadfast partner, at his side in all of their adventures. When family and friends could be a part of it all, so much the better. Don was generous and caring. Though tough when required, he was a backstop of experience and wise counsel for anyone who sought it. If he could help, he would.

Don loved simple things. Even in complicated times, he would stop and see the immense value and sustenance of life’s basics, which he believed was what life was really all about. He loved his Charolais calves, beautiful days, green grass fields, well-built barns and stacked hay. He was partial to a productive chicken coop, too. And no one appreciated a good rain more.

Don grew up with faith being a pillar in his life. He was a member of the Industry Methodist Church where he sang in the choir. His favorite hymn was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Don loved his family deeply. He’s survived by his wife Katherine and their extended families…

Don’s children, son Tony Cornett of Dallas, and his children with Laura: Alexandra Cornett and Chloe Cornett, and daughter Anna Lefler of Los Angeles and her children with Dan: Madison Lefler and Henry Lefler.

Kat’s children, daughter Kristin and husband Jeff Janosik of Pittsburgh, and their children, Sarah and her husband William Snyder, Meagan and Leah Janosik, and Jay and his wife Rachel Janosik. Kat’s son Brian Ross of Portland, and his daughter with Tina, Elizabeth Ross. And Kat’s youngest daughter, Eryn and her husband Justin Hold of Bellville. As well as their children, Katherine and her husband Clayton Schubert, William Green, and Reagan Green. Kat is also blessed with several great grandchildren, William and Emma Snyder, and Jennifer Janosik.

And Don’s two surviving siblings and their extended families: brother Doug Cornett of Guston, Kentucky, and Aggie Melton of Wendover, Kentucky.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at the Industry Methodist Church in Industry, TX. There will be a visitation from 1:00 pm. Followed by a memorial at 2:00 pm.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979-836-3611