Leona Josephine Hudson (1931-2020)

Leona Josephine Hudson, 88, of Springfield, Mo., passed away June 10, 2020 in Springfield. Leona was born in Marquette, Kan. to William Jerome Loder and Edith Josephine (Olson) Loder Oct. 2, 1931.

She attended Marquette High School and graduated in 1949. Leona was retired from Oxford Healthcare where she cared for her patients and touched many lives over her career.

Leona married the love of her life, Charles Leland Hudson in 1949. They had four children, Kristia Jolene, Tandy Cray, Jody Lee, and Heidi Sue.

Leona’s parents, William and Edith; three brothers, Arthur William, Robert Allen, and Donald Eugene; two sisters, Lola Jane, and Elsie Mae; and two grandchildren, Jason Lee Snider and Erin Marie Hudson preceded her in death.

Leona is survived by her husband of 71 years, Charles; daughter Kristia Jolene (Hudson) Snider and husband Gary Lynn Snider of Springfield, Mo.; son Tandy Cray of Springfield, Mo.; son Jody Lee of McLean, Va.; and daughter Heidi Sue (Hudson) Dedmon and husband Todd Alan Dedmon of Springfield, Mo.; grandchildren Jennifer Ann Snider, Blake Arron, Summer Rose (Huggins) Brown, John Thomas Huggins, Ashley Rian, Jordan Matthew Huggins; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Leona enjoyed singing, playing the piano, painting, cooking, sewing, and many other creative pursuits. She was very generous and giving, always doing what she could to support and bring joy and happiness to others. Her greatest joy was bringing the family together for holidays and birthdays.

A memorial celebration of life will be held at a future date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, Fla. 33131, or at Parkinson.org