Wynona Colleen Gallant (Essary) passed away on August 15, 2009 at the age of 82.

She was born in Acme, Texas on August 26, 1926 and grew up in Quannah, Texas. She will be remembered most for her caring heart, sense-of-humor and directness. After graduation from Quannah High School, she moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Oklahoma City Hospital.

After WWII she moved to Santa Maria where she worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Sister’s Hospital (Marian) where she met her husband Bill Gallant (1908-1994). She was married August 21, 1948 in San Luis Obispo and moved to Orcutt where she lived for the remainder of her life. She was extremely proud to be a member of the Orcutt Den of the Lions Clubs International (LCI) for over 30 years. Serving in several positions of responsibility including President of both the Orcutt Lions and Lioness. In 1997 she was granted lifetime membership in the Lions Project for K9 Companions for Independence.

Colleen is remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her family and friends and as a second mother/grandmother to 3 generations of Orcutt families. She is beloved and will be missed by many, her children Patrick Gallant (Sandy Hamilton), Kay Bohanan (Ed), Melissa Elitzak (Jack), Jerome Gallant (Barbara Schneider) and Linda Hamilton: her grandchildren Kristy (Steven Anson), Jennifer (Matt Bernhardt), Michael (Nicole Cavalier), Stacey (Patrick Hanna), Amanda, Kaitlyn and Julia Schneider: and her great grandchildren Zachary, Zechariah, Armando and DC.

A memorial service is being planned for November 15, 2009 at the Orcutt Lions. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be sent to your local Lions Club projects. Arrangements are in the care of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.

Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463
www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com
Published in Santa Maria Times on September 4, 2009