Madeline Faye Cantwell, woke up in Heaven on September 16, 2016. She heeded the Master’s call and went to be with the Lord, who has patiently waited for his faithful servant to come home. She was generously accepted into Heaven, without question, by her heavenly Father and her friends/family that preceded her in death. She may have departed her earthly body, but certainly not from the hearts of her loved ones. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at Ingram Funeral Home in Quinlan, Texas on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 P.M.

Madeline was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 26, 1929 to parents Milton Gliford Ryan and Fay Hendricks Ryan. She began teaching Sunday school at the age of 15. She attended Southwestern Bible College in Waxahachie, Texas. There, she met Mack Cantwell and they were married in 1947. To this union were born 4 children. In 1951, Reverend Mack A Cantwell (Buddy) graduated from college and their ministry, as a team of ordained minister and teacher, began. Over the next 50+ years, they pastored in New Mexico, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas and Texas. She taught Sunday school, played the piano/organ and served faithfully as a pastor’s wife. Over the course of her life, she taught many week long Biblical training courses, wherever she felt led or was requested to do so. She touched many lives in her Christian walk. She also wrote and published multiple songs that were written for children of all ages. Her book that is copyrighted and published The Illustrated Book of Revelation and is still available in stores today.

In addition to serving as a pastor’s wife, she also worked outside the home. Her last employment was with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where she retired with 10 years of service.

She will definitely be remembered as a strong person, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. She maintained close friendships with many of the people that she came in contact with, and many that she taught in Sunday school, all throughout the years. She survived the loss of her husband, son, son-in-law, breast cancer, double hip replacement, and the loss of most of her belongings in a house fire. Through it all she remained a faithful Christian. Though she was legally blind she managed to live by herself, attend church regularly, teach Sunday school and serve as the music coordinator/treasurer for the Church on the Lake.

She will be, forever remembered by her friends and family as “one of the sweetest, strongest, Christian woman with a lot of Biblical wisdom” they had ever had the privilege to meet and get to know. Rest now in the Master’s loving arms and accept all the rewards, jewels in your crown that you earned for your un-wavering service to his kingdom.

She is loved and will be missed by her brother Daniel Ryan and spouse Carol of Wasilla, Alaska; daughters Karen Thompson of Point, Sandra (Sandy) Dickey and spouse Danny of Lufkin, Shana (Sha) Vasquez and spouse James of Longview; 12 grandchildren Kenneth, Kelly, Noell, Gina, Mandy, Daniel, Matthew, Travis, Ryan, Corey, Haley and Lindsey; 8 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

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