Leah Gardner Santos

Leah Gardner Santos passed away on Friday, November 20th at the age of 51 after a heroic battle with melanoma. Leah was born on January 20, 1964 in Duncan, Oklahoma to doting parents, Ralph and Janice Gardner. She grew up on a working cattle ranch in North Texas and graduated from Nocona High School. She went on to Austin, Texas to receive her Government degree from The University of Texas at Austin. From there Leah went to St. Mary's School of Law where she met soul mate Frank Santos. Frank and Leah married in a fairy tale wedding in San Antonio at St Joseph's Catholic Church in 1990 and for 25 years never left each other's side.

Leah worked for The Texas Speaker of the House and members of The Texas Senate and the House of Representatives before she went on to become a very successful lobbyist. When Leah and Frank started having children, Leah decided to dedicate her life to her children and never looked back. She led an extraordinary life as a wife, mother, sister, friend, community leader, volunteer, mentor and businesswoman.

Leah and Frank have two beautiful boys, their sons Cuatro (age 17) and Nando (age 11) and have lived in Westlake Hills for the past 12 years.

You always felt loved and appreciated in her presence because she truly cared for other's well-being. Her dedication to her family and community were an example to everyone. Leah will be missed terribly. We find peace knowing how beautiful Leah looks in Heaven right now with her brand new set of wings.

Leah was a member of various organizations: Westlake High School Lacrosse Board of Directors, Westlake High School Guidance Committee, Eanes Elementary School PTO, Alpha Phi Sorority Alumni, former Junior League of Austin member.

Leah is preceded in death by her father Ralph Gardner and is survived by her loving family: Frank, Cuatro and Nando of Westlake Hills, Texas; her mother Janice Gardner; sister Lorie and her family Pat Barrios and daughter Isabella all of Johannesburg, South Africa; brother, Travis Gardner of Austin; as well as many family members and friends and associates in Texas, Oklahoma, all over the USA and around the world.

The service will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Monday, November 30th at 11:00 am. A reception following the church service will be announced at the funeral service. There will be a private burial service for the family.

We ask that in lieu of flowers please consider giving a donation at posthope.org/teamsantos where you can also read the blog on Leah's entire journey. All donations will be used for a new organization formed by Frank Santos with his two sons, NOMO (No more melanoma) Foundation, that will be dedicated to melanoma awareness, support services for families and raising funds for innovative therapies and research. The NOMO Foundation and its website teamnomo.com will be launched by the end of the year.