Crystal "Joyce" Joyce Cornelius

Crystal Joyce (Dotson) Cornelius, age 82, of Tipton, Indiana passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at The Waters of Tipton with her loving family by her side.  She was born on September 9, 1942, in Russiaville, Indiana to her parents, Everett & Helen (Baumgart) Dotson.  On September 27, 1958, Joyce married the love of her life, Ronald Cornelius, and the two shared 65 wonderful years together raising four children and sharing a lifetime of memories.  

Joyce attended Western High School in Russiaville.  She was a member of the Windfall Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge 1590 and the Elks Lodge 2073.  Joyce worked several jobs over the years including work in retail, secretarial positions, and Delco.  However, she preferred being a homemaker and she did amazing things while doing the hardest job around!  Joyce was the neighborhood mom to many of her children’s friends.  A large group of kids would gather at her house every morning before school to catch the bus; she always engaged with all of them, making them feel special and heard.  Joyce and Ronald always had a house full of kids and they loved every second of it.  As those kids got older, they became affectionately known as Mamaw & Papaw to the younger generation of those same kids that spent so much time in their home.  

Joyce was known to be feisty. When her children were at the age of getting their driver's permit, they had an old car that they made them drive.  Joyce and her best friend Rowell would hop into the backseat with toilet paper wrapped around their hairdos and have a grand ol’ time trying to embarrass the young driver. They would make them honk at people on the street and wave as they went by, a true right of passage into the world of driving. 

Joyce or “General Joyce” as she was often referred to was firm but always had her children’s best interest at heart.  She was warm and caring, always making sure her family knew how much they were loved.  Growing up her family was incredibly close, and she kept the traditions going once she started her own family as well; Sunday dinners, family game nights, celebrating the holidays together.  Joyce loved the Christmas holiday, baking all sorts of goodies for a full week before the celebration.  She would go overboard with gifts and for many years you couldn’t even see the tree because of the huge stack of gifts surrounding it.  

Joyce and Ronald were incredibly hard workers.  They would personally do without making sure their family had everything they needed.  In her free time, Joyce enjoyed crocheting, sewing, cooking and baking, any kind of craft, and making floral bouquets.  

They liked to travel by car all over the United States, sometimes going for weeks at a time.  Every Sunday after breakfast, Joyce and Ronald would go for a drive around the town.  Joyce will be deeply missed by her family.  

Those left to carry on Joyce’s legacy of love are her husband, Ronald Cornelius; children, Kimberly (Jeff) Lacy, Tricia (Monty) Combs, Lori (David) Lynch, Jeff (Marqie) Cornelius; grandchildren, Jeffie Cornelius, Kara Elliott, Michael Combs, Shanna Lacy, Mallory Michel, Kelly Combs, Jenna Tolle, Taylor Webb; siblings, Sharon Pilet, Nancy Alexander, Romona Harris, Cheryl McCartney (Practice child); 16 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  

Joyce was welcomed into Heaven by her parents, Everett & Helen Dotson; son in law, Monty Combs; and 7 siblings.   

A funeral service celebrating Joyce’s life will be held on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 4:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton with Pastor Adam Rinehart officiating. A visitation for family & friends will be held the same day from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Joyce’s family would like to give a special thank you for the wonderful love and care Joyce & Ronald have received from the staff at The Waters of Tipton. 

Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cornelius family in their time of need. Please feel free to leave an online condolence or share a special memory of Joyce with her family on her tribute wall.

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