Former Alaska resident Jeffery Allen Cornelius, 44, died Feb. 28, 2008, at his home in New Braunfels, Texas.
A visitation was Sunday at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels. A service was Monday at the New Braunfels Presbyterian Church, across the street from the Seele Elementary School, which Allen attended as a little boy, and down the hill from the home where he grew up.
Allen was born June 21, 1963, in Houston. His family moved to New Braunfels (his dad's hometown) when he was less than a year old, and he lived there until he moved to Alaska.
He worked in Anchorage for almost 15 years before moving back to his hometown to fight his battle against cancer at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital.
Family wrote: "Allen was the best Daddy and gave the best 'sugars'! He loved New Braunfels and the rivers surrounding it and requested that his ashes be scattered in the Comal River.
"Allen is survived by his wonderful and faithful wife, Janet Cornelius, who was privileged to hold him in her loving arms as he passed away, and hand him over to the waiting arms of his Lord and savior. He is also survived by his oldest daughter, Kyla, 16; his baby girl, Ember, 2; and his only son, Jeffrey, 3."
He is also survived by his father, James Cornelius; his mother, Sue Ragusa and her husband, Tom; his oldest brother, Bryan Cornelius, and Bryan's daughters and son, Chelsea, Paisley, Karleigh and Cody; his brother, Scott Cornelius, and his wife, Mary, and their children, Amanda and John Michael, and grandson, Trystin; his sister, Cathy Cornelius Samos and her husband, Agustin, and their daughter, Susana; his stepbrother, Keith Ragusa; and his best friend, "Eskimo Ray" Gafford.
It was Allen's wish that in lieu of flowers, his friends would contribute to the emergency fund for New Braunfels Presbyterian Church, 373 Howard St., New Braunfels, TX 78130