After 19,453 days (a little more than 53 orbits around the sun) daughter Kenyon Christina Cornelius took her last breath on Monday, June 17, 2024, and we like to imagine her beautiful soul began a pleasant flight without limitation to parts unknown.
While recovering from a fractured pelvis incurred June 11, Kenyon experienced a rapid succession of health crises which, with her increasing fragility, she could not overcome.
Born on Mar 16, 1971, to Christina Baldwin and Scotty Cornelius, Kenyon arrived with the genetic condition of trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). At age 6 months, Whitman County was fortunate to gain her residency, where she enjoyed the remainder of her life. Later, she also loved, and was loved by, her bonus parents, Michael Haseltine and Diane Cornelius.
Upon graduation from Pullman High School, Kenyon was employed in a variety of positions with the support of Boost Collaborative.
She was an athlete, learning her swimming craft as a teenager in Moscow Special Olympics, and selected to attend the Special Olympics World Games in 1995. She was still zestfully swimming laps regularly to the last. She also participated in Special Olympics skiing, bowling, and got around Pullman on her bicycle and on foot.
And Kenyon enjoyed her crafts. Her coveted potholders were sold in five stores in Washington and Idaho as well as at crafts fairs.
She was loving, open, sociable and always eager to interact with others. She touched many lives with her loving ways. She was full of life, and her life was full.
Kenyon certainly saw the world a bit differently than most, in that she appreciated people just the way they are. The judgmental mind found little room in her big heart. Most of us could learn some life lessons from Kenyon: feel no ill will toward others, love your friends and family dearly. She was a good teacher by example.
Kenyon touched many hearts, she is woven into our memory, and she is missed.
“And now you know” (as Kenyon was fond of saying).
You are invited to a celebration of Kenyon’s life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1300 SE Sunnymead Way, Pullman, which she attended regularly for 30 years.
Contributions in honor of Kenyon may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, at ebcpullman.org, Lumind at lumindidsc.org or the National Down Syndrome Society ndsccenter.org/donate.
For more information contact christina.ann.baldwin@gmail.com or scottyc@pullman.com.
