Leon Moore Cornforth

Leon Moore Cornforth passed to his rest on December 19, 2010 at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell Idaho from heart failure. He was a minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a "Warrior for Christ" for over 60 years. Leon was born on a farm near Aberdeen, Idaho on June 25, 1927. He has a twin brother (Lyle) and they were the last of 11 children born to Charlie & Nettie Cornforth. He attended school in Aberdeen going the miles to & from in a wagon or sleigh until the buses started to run. In 10th grade, he became a Seventh-day Adventist and finished high school at Gem State Academy in Caldwell. Leon then attended Walla Walla College where he took Theology and became a minister in 1949. Marrying Betty Jean Henderson from Montana, the love of his life, the day after graduation. They came to Gem State Academy to become Dean of Men and teachers right after their Honeymoon. They've said, "They were married 30 days and had 40 boys," and they loved it. Summer of 1950, they manned Brundage Mtn. Lookout for the forest service. During the 60's he was President of the Allied Civic Forces of Idaho. Leon was called to full-time ministry and served as Pastor, Administrator, and Evangelist in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee and Arizona. He became Circulation Manager for the Pacific Press Publishing Association in Mountain View, California in 1975 and was partly responsible for the PPPA moving to Nampa, Idaho. During this time he traveled most of the United States and Canada. In 1980 he was called back "home" to Idaho to finish working and "retired" out of Caldwell on a view property where he enjoyed watching the sunsets when he was home. He traveled to Brazil & India to hold Evangelistic Series in retirement and kept busy speaking and holding Bible Studies, raising funds for improvements of Camp-IdaHaven in McCall & Gem State Academy, "the school he loved", mowing the 3 acre homesite and playing with his great grandsons. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of 61 years, his daughter, Cheryl Beck of Gresham, Oregon, his daughter and son-in-law, LeAnn & Gary Crawford of Caldwell, Grandson, Justin Crawford of Meridian, his Granddaughter & husband, Janette & Brad Soule' & two great-grandson's, Hayden & Logan of Nampa, his twin brother Lyle Cornforth of Gresham, Oregon and many nieces, nephews & cousins. He will be truly missed by family and friends all over the world. A Memorial service will be held, Tuesday, Dec. 28 @ 4 pm at the Caldwell SDA Church, corner of Linden & Indiana. Memorials can be made to: Gem State Academy -Endowment Fund, c/o Idaho Conference of SDA, 7777 W Fairview Ave., Boise, ID 83704-8418.