Winona Bard Leavell

Winona Bard Ross Leavell was born on December 9, 1930, and went home to be with the Lord on October 25, 2022 at the age of 91. She was the youngest of 6 children, born to William E. and Ethel Bard. She grew up in Dallas and Waco, graduated from North Dallas High School, and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She married her high school sweetheart, Buddy Woodward, in 1949, and in 1950 had one daughter, Cynthia.

Winn divorced in 1953 and with her fabulous sense of style and keen business mind began a long and successful career in fashion merchandizing. While in this business, she met and married Arnold Ross in 1964, and the two spent almost ten happy years together until his passing in 1974. Winn then formed her own business called Pyramid Sales. She continued in her thriving company until her marriage to John Stanley Leavell in 1981, when she joined him in his family business, ladies’ specialty store Marie Leavell. They worked side by side until their retirement in 1993. In 2015, Winn and John moved to The Tradition Lovers Lane, where they made many wonderful friends and enjoyed their last years together.

In 2010, Winn began attending Sandy Edmonson’s Bible study class. Through Sandy’s clear and inspired teaching of God’s Word, Winn understood the gospel message for the first time and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. In this, her family rejoices knowing she is now home.

Winona was known to her family as “Noni,” “Mums,” and “Grammy,“ and to her friends as Winn. She was a fiercely independent lady ahead of her time who established a place for herself in the business world through her beauty, grace, and brains.

Winn was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, 3 sisters, her husbands Arnold Ross and John Leavell, and son-in-law Charlie Taylor. She is survived by her daughter, Cyndi Taylor, grandchildren Leigh Cooper and husband Braxton, Clare Taylor, and Clay Taylor, great-grandchildren Micah and Maggie Cooper, and many nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date.