Leslie Madden Obituary

I guess you could say I'm one of the lucky ones. Knowing that I have a terminal illness, I get to relieve my family of the burden of writing my obituary and have done it for them. Watching me die has been hard enough on them and if I can relieve even the tiniest pain from them, it's a gift.

Technically, I died on July 15th, 2025 @ 1:35pm (CST) from uterine cancer that metastasized to my lungs. This was likely due to Li Fraumeni Syndrome, a genetic mutation I have which doesn't allow me to fight cancer like other people can. Thems the breaks, kid.

I was born October 14, 1967 in Edmonds, Washington and moved shortly thereafter with my family to Shady Grove, Tennessee. The family moved to Oregon in 1980 and I graduated from Corvallis High School in 1985. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico in 1990, a Master of Science degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1997, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Aquinas College in 2009. But that's all stuff I did; it's not who I was.

Who I was: I was an adventurous soul who loved her family above all else. Alex, Sidney, and Kevin were never far from my mind and always in my heart. My friends were SO important to me and I never got to spend enough time with them. I considered my pets to be among my best friends (I hope they feel the same.) Fart jokes and potty humor cracked me up every single time. Puns slayed me. I was scared of heights but willing to overcome it to experience something new. I loved traveling to new places but was always happiest at home. I was a voracious reader although that became harder at the end. My favorite authors were Charles Dickens, Diana Gabaldon, and Stephen King.

I was preceded in death by my parents, William B Williams, who I barely remember as he died when I was 5 but mom always told me he adored me (and I was a pretty cute kid…), and Mildred P Williams, who I have missed daily since she left us in 2017. (She hated being called Mildred, btw.) I am survived by my absolute blessing of a husband, Kevin Madden, our two wonderful children, Sidney McIntosh and Alexander McIntosh. Also surviving me are two elder brother's Dirk (Brenda) Williams and Daryl (Pamela) Williams and a blessed bounty of nieces, nephews, grands, in-laws, and friends too numerous to name. Truly, I was blessed to have had so many beautiful flowers in my life bouquet.

I met Kevin in 2003 and we married in 2005. To say he is the best thing that ever happened to me feels…. like it's just not enough. He's the finest man I know. I love you.

And now it's time to say goodbye. To all my family and friends, thank you for all the time that you have shared with me. It was a far more valuable gift than you know. To my precious Sidney and Alex, you have always been my greatest joys. Live well and love well. Always know that I loved you both so much. And to Kevin… you know. You've always known.

Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Hendersonville, 108 Monthaven Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075. 615-265-8535, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com.