Roy Kenneth Cornell

1940 - 2025

Roy Kenneth Cornell, 85 years old, passed away peacefully at home with his family on Sept 10, 2025. He was born Jan 7, 1940, in Dillon, Montana.

Roy grew up as 4th generation on the Cornell ranch. He attended the Mary Innes elementary and Bagley schools and later graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1958. He was an avid skier, skiing every opportunity all through high school and later with his kids.

He attended Montana State College, 1958-1962. He was an active member in the Sigma Nu fraternity. He obtained his Amateur Radio license, K7IMM, Amateur Extra Class, the highest level of ham radio license. He graduated with a Range Management/Plant Botany degree and military science where he entered the Unites States Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant. He was assigned as the communication's maintenance officer and cryptographic control officer for the Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis.

He returned to the home ranch on a hardship discharge from the Air Force when brother Craig and wife Teddy were killed in an airplane crash on the ranch in fall of 1963. He met Brenda while skiing in Jackson Hole, WY, and later married August, 1969. They had a daughter, Tonya Rae, 1973 and son, Craig Justin, 1975.

Roy was basically invited to join the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department because of his very successful uncontrolled burns on the ranch. His 52 years of fire service began in 1968 as a Firefighter, becoming Assistant Chief in 1986, then Chief from 1988 through 2000. His service continuing as a District Trustee, Secretary/Treasurer, then as District Chairman through 2020.

In addition to his love of fire service, he was a substitute school bus driver for 21 years, drove potato truck for Cottom Farms for 21 years, and was on the Soil Conservation Board for 7 years. In 1971 the Cornell Ranch Company donated land for the construction of the new Barrett hospital and he served on the hospital committee. He was an Elk Lodge member 1961-2025.

Roy married Shirley Cote in 1988 and they enjoyed travelling together to visit friends across the states as well as being super cruisers and volunteered for several Elderhostel (Road Scholar Programs) as Leaders and Helpers.

Roy loved and supported his kids through everything. He was a big kid himself. He would take them on numerous adventures across the states and Canada. He supported Craig's extracurricular activities, business endeavors, and shenanigans. He enjoyed spending time with his daughter and grandson while maintaining a nearly daily phone call with Tonya back in Indiana.

He is survived by his daughter Tonya McLoed (Tom), son Craig Cornell (Melissa), and grandson Nick Walter. He is preceded in death by his parents Roscoe Gillespie Cornell and Elsie (Rouse) Cornell (married 1937) and older brother Craig Roscoe Cornell (born 1938).

A celebration of life and opportunity to share stories will be at the Frontier Event Center, Nov 1, 2025, in Dillon, MT.