Carl Leonard Cordell

Cordell, Carl Leonard Chelsea, Michigan Age 94, died Friday, June 19, 2015 at Chelsea Retirement Community. He was born November 13, 1920 in Pikeville, TN, the son of James Rankin & Gertrude May (Rutledge) Cordell. He attended school in Chattanooga and served in the US Army in World War II. On July 8, 1945, he married Harriet Peterson in Greenville, SC. In 1948, they moved to Belleville, MI, where he was employed by the United States Postal Service in Ypsilanti, MI. He retired in 1978 as Manager of Customer Service. They both loved travel and retirement gave them more opportunities for this and visiting their many relatives. They also spent their winters in Leesburg, FL, with their RV. Harriet Cordell preceded him in death on June 4, 1990. On August 3, 1991, he married Mary Jo (Sherburne) Lawson of Ypsilanti and they established their home in Chelsea. In November, 2013, they moved to the Chelsea Retirement Community, where he became a member of the Building and Grounds Committee. Carl was central in the establishment of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, serving many terms on the church council. After moving to Chelsea, he and Mary Jo belonged to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. Over the years he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He and Mary Jo enjoyed world travel and visited every continent except South America. He is survived by three sons: James Allen (Nancy) Cordell of Springfield, MO; William Carl (Denise) Cordell of Boulder Creek, CA; and Charles Ernest (Cheri) Cordell of Davison, MI. In addition, he is survived by three stepsons: Bradford (Cheryl) Lawson of Bremerton, WA; Theodore Lawson of Lansing, MI; and Andrew (Megan) Lawson of Ypsilanti, MI. He is also survived by two grandsons, Matthew Morgan and Mark Cordell, one granddaughter, Carol Cordell, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, George Cordell of Chattanooga, TN. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Louise Cordell and Ruth (Knox) Owen and his brothers, Ernest, James Loy, Glenn, and Leslie Howard Cordell. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 25, 10:30 am at Chelsea Retirement Community Main Chapel, with Rev. John Morris officiating. Burial will follow at Washtenong Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday 9:30-10:30 am. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Chelsea.