Leona H. Lee

Leona is survived by her husband, Fred, her sons, Daniel and Richard and her daughters, Linda and Laura, all of their spouses and 8 grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Edna and Dorothy. Her four children were born within 4 ½ years in 3 different states and 1 in Europe, an early demonstration of her amazing ability to organize and multitask.

Having been born in Ancon, Panama, and raised in the (then) Canal Zone, she left for the United States to attend Nursing school. She returned to the Canal Zone as a wife and mother, and lived there with her family for 15 years. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Gorgas Army Hospital.

She spent many years teaching children’s Sunday School, and also served as a children’s Sunday School Department Director. In addition to her church activities, she also established a church preschool for the community-at-large. She was instrumental in organizing bi-annual camps for children with special needs, which were held at a church campground at Santa Clara Beach in Panama. Throughout her life she was active in missionary support. For many years she traveled as a counselor and nurse for the Good News Singers, a teen youth choir that traveled every Easter week throughout various Latin-American countries.

Over the years she was a foster mother to 21 short-term foster children. Because of the valuable service she and her husband provided to the community, they received an Honorary Public Service Award from the Governor of the Panama Canal Commission. After retiring from Panama, she was one of the founders of the Mission Care Center at First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, Florida. For 27 years she continued to participate in leadership there.

Leona’s life was lived with a view of eternity. For many years she has been looking forward to spending eternity with Jesus, and we rejoice that she is now with her Lord that she loved so well.

A Memorial Service will be held in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Merritt Island on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 3 pm. Flowers can be sent to the church at 140 Magnolia Ave., Merritt Island, FL, 32952.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Canaveral Port Ministry, 8907 N. Atlantic Ave., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 or through their website: WWW.CPM.Life