Nina E. Leonard

On behalf of her family, I would like to say a few words about Nina, better known to most of us as Mom or Grandma. Nina Leonard was born May 10, 1942. She was the baby of 12 children. Her father was a coal miner and she was raised on a farm. She use to work the farm alongside her brothers and her sisters. I remember her telling me stories saying you never knew hard work till you worked a farm, sun up to sundown, but that hardworking mind set stuck with her throughout all that she did. She worked and did whatever she had to do to take care of her and her family from being a supervisor at the burglar alarm company, driving a semi-truck, waiting tables at Waffle house to pilot escorting oversize loads.

Later in life she found love and someone to share her life with. Nolan (Dad) you two shared joy and laughter, and above all else love. Mom walked a hard path in her life and had to deal with so much over the years and after she met you, you took care of her, in fact you two took care of one another.

Mom was blessed to have three beautiful children, Teresa, Randy, and David. She has always cherished you all, each in your own way. She would smile the brightest when any of you were around whether it was a phone call from far away or whether you showed up with an unexpected visit. Her life was fulfilled because of you. She worked hard to raise all three of you basically on her own. She use to tell me the story of her picking up and moving from Ohio to Texas all on her own, her and her three babies, away from all the people she ever knew and didn’t even know where she was going to live but she had faith that God would provide. And he did. She was a strong, independent woman- one of the strongest I will ever know. She was a wonderful mother and would do anything for her kids or her grandkids at the drop of a hat. If they ever needed anything all they had to do was call, maybe it was just an ear to listen, or maybe they needed to come home. It didn’t matter that door was always open and she was always there.

Mom was a wonderful mother and a wonderful grandmother. Along with her kids the people that brought her the biggest joy are her grandbabies and her great grandbabies. She couldn’t get enough of any of you. And she was the type of grandma that never missed a birthday or Christmas or the just because. (It may be running late in the mail but you all were always on her mind and close to her heart.)

I was blessed to have Nina as my mother-in-law. From the day that I met her she took me in and loved me as if I was her own daughter. I will never forget all the precious memories I am able to hold in my heart thanks to this special relationship. We were able to talk about anything and were able to share in our faith and love in God, and our family. Mom, you taught us all how to love, how to give to others and to be there for one another. I thank you for this and so much more. I know you are in heaven looking down on all of us. I wish we had more time to go to that yard sale or take off and go to the casino, but every time I do I will be thinking of you! I love you! We all love you! God speed and rest easy, Mom.