Madeline “Leona” Colwell Pardus, 90, of Gainesville passed away on June 20, 2019 at the Muenster Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Thursday, June 27, 2019, at the Meador Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Rick Carney officiating.  Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 26, 2019, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Leona was born on October 14, 1928 in Oklahoma City to Martin and Christine Hensen.  Leona graduated from the Cooke County Junior College with a degree in Associate in Nursing.  She was a nurse’s aide for several years and later on became a Registered Nurse and then she worked in ICU in Texas and then later moved to California.  Later on, Leona went on to the become an Education and Training instructor for nurses and worked a total of 45 years.  Leona also did volunteer work in Africa using her nursing skills. Leona loved her family. She loved to be on facebook and read and keep up with her family and know what they were all doing.  Leona loved to travel, when she married her second husband, Jim Pardus, they both traveled all the time. They went to Israel, Switzerland, Italy, Hawaii and Paris. When Jim passed away she moved back to Texas to be closer to her family.

Leona is survived by her daughter Jaunita Barnett and spouse Juan Alba of Las Vegas, NV;  Sons, Chester (Bill) Colwell and wife Deborah of Gainesville, Michael Colwell and wife Tammy of Gainesville; 14 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great grandchildren.

Leona is preceded in death by her husband’s, William “Buddy” Colwell, Jim Pardus; Sons Jerry, Darrell and David Colwell.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Rennison, John Colwell, David Colwell, Dewayne Colwell, Douglas Colwell and Juan Alba.  Honorary Pallbearers is William “Bailey” Colwell.