Alfred Waco "Al" Cordell

Alfred "Al" Waco Cordell, Jr., aged 87, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2024, at his home in East Wenatchee, Wash., surrounded by his family. He was a beloved father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and community leader, who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. 

Alfred was born Feb. 24, 1937, in West Plains, Mo., where the Cordell family had lived for several generations. By 1945, several of his Cordell relatives had already moved to the Wenatchee area and bought apple orchards, and they encouraged the rest of the family to move to Washington state. With that, Al’s mother, Naomi, and father Alfred “Waco” Cordell, packed up their belongings and moved to Moses Lake, Wash. Al’s father became a farmer in the Columbia Basin, and Alfred and his sister, Barbara, and brother Tom grew up on the family farm in Moses Lake.

He attended Moses Lake High School, where he played football and raised steers for 4-H; winning Grand Champion at the Waterville District Fair. Alfred then attended Washington State College (Go Cougs!), where he met many of his lifelong friends in the dorms at Waller Hall and ended up majoring in Accounting and Business. He was a lifelong WSU fan and supporter. 

In 1955 in Moses Lake, Al met the love of his life, Mildred (Millie) Alice Larreau. Al’s friend wanted to impress a girl named Millie but didn’t have a car, so he convinced Al to bring a girl and drive his 1954 Ford so they could go on a double date. The problem was, Al found himself far more attracted to his friend’s date than his own, and luckily for him, Millie felt the same. They dated for three years and were married in September of 1959, right after he graduated from college and she from high school. They had three sons: Jeffrey Waco in 1961, Scott Alan in 1963, and Daniel Dean in 1964. 

After graduation in 1959, Alfred started his career as a CPA with the firm Quinn & Calahan in Moses Lake. In 1968, Quinn & Calahan had a need for a partner in their Wenatchee office, so Al and Millie packed up the boys and moved to East Wenatchee, to a home they would live for the next forty years. In 1975, he and Irwin (Irv) Conner formed a new partnership under the name Cordell & Conner, with Judy Conner and Colin Brine named partners later. In 1988, they merged their company with the firm Ringler, Neher and Blakney, which was led by Jeff Neher and Phil Blakney. This CPA firm continues today as Cordell Neher & Company. Al was very proud of his 40-year career as a CPA in the Wenatchee Valley and continued to work into his 70s. He was a trusted business advisor and friend to his many clients, and he enjoyed mentoring and working together with all the professionals at these firms over the decades. 

While raising a family, Al was very involved in his son’s activities, including Boy Scouts and as a coach on their many sports teams such as football and little league. He taught them to ski and took them on many fishing, hiking, and hunting adventures in the local area. 

In 1976, Al and Millie purchased a cabin at Lake Chelan, which became an integral part of their lives. They enjoyed boating, swimming and hosting family and friends for decades, including holidays and many large family reunions. Al loved to load all of the grandkids into the boat and take them on long rides and take them tubing, and he also loved hosting the family for large Thanksgiving gatherings. 

Around 1969, Al began skiing at Mission Ridge and became an accomplished snow skier, skiing well into his late seventies. Al enjoyed many great ski vacations in the Northwest with family and friends. 

Al joined the Applarians in the early 1980s, serving in many leadership roles there, including as Chancellor, in 1997. Alfred loved being an Applarian, and he and Millie traveled to many parades throughout the Northwest and Hawaii to represent the Apple Blossom festival. One of their favorite stops was the Kona Coffee Festival, where they marched in the parade and handed out apples along the route. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Apple Blossom Festival. 

Al joined the Wenatchee Central Lions Club early in his career and held various leadership positions there over his nearly 50 years as a proud member, including serving as President. In 2007, he was awarded the Lions’ Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for Community Service. He and Millie were also active in the Moses Lake and Eastmont Jaycee clubs in their younger years, and Alfred was also on the Board of Directors of Central Washington Bank for many years.

Al spent 16 years on the Central Washington Hospital Board of Directors and was President for two years and Treasurer for several more. He also spent several years on the Hospital Foundation Board. Al and Millie Cordell were awarded the Confluence Health Foundation’s “Spirit of A.Z. Wells Award” in 2008 for their leadership and support of the foundation. 

A highlight of Alfred’s life was his family: his three sons and their families, including his seven grandchildren (who called him Papa Al). He traveled many miles to attend their soccer, football and baseball games, piano and dance recitals, equestrian events and graduations. 

Al and Millie loved to travel, with some of their favorite places being Kona and Maui in Hawaii, the Oregon Coast and Palm Springs in the winter. They traveled throughout the U.S., as well as to Europe several times. They also took many cruises, including a long Mediterranean cruise with their Applarian friends.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred “Waco” Cordell, Sr. and Naomi Opal Cordell.

Al is survived by his wife, Millie; and sons: Jeff (Jill) of The Dalles Ore., Scott (Cari) of Issaquah, Wash., and Daniel of Wenatchee, Wash.; as well as his brother, Tom (Marcia) and sister, Barbara (Don) McDowall in Moses Lake. He also has seven grandchildren: Nick (Emily), Kirsten, Lauren (Eddie) Estrada, Maxwell, Bailey, Carsen, and Megan, as well as two great-grandchildren: Dylan and Parker. Alfred also is survived by several aunts, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Al’s Life will be held at the Eastmont Baptist Church at 400 South Kentucky Ave. on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to one of his favorite organizations, the Confluence Health Foundation.