MARY NELL (HASKINS) PENNINGTON

1929 — 2018

Mary Nell (Haskins) Pennington, 89, passed away in her home in San Diego, CA on October 9, 2018, where she resided for over five years. She bravely fought cancer and Alzheimer's for several years. Her three daughters were at her bedside during her last days.

She was born in Redondo Beach, CA to Velma Mae (Mills) Haskins Vinzant and Denzil Columbus Haskins. She grew up in Lawndale, CA. She never forgot the summers spent visiting her grandparent's farm and picking cotton with her Arizona and Oklahoma cousins.

Mary Nell attended Leuzinger High School. She participated in many clubs and activities joining the yearbook staff, chorus, thespians, and school newspaper staff. In her senior year of 1946 she was chosen song queen.

After graduation, Mary Nell worked as a cashier at the Alto Theatre in Los Angeles. It was there she met Frank Manzano Millan, the father of her first child. Their daughter Toni Lynn was born in 1947. Soon after, Mary Nell and Frank went their separate ways. In 1949, she married Donald Elmer Devey in Inglewood, CA. They had two sons, Donald Scott born in 1950 and Steven Duane born in 1952.

From 1955 through the late 1960s, Mary Nell was a single mom raising three children. She worked as a secretary in the aircraft industry. When layoffs dictated, she'd relocate her young family in order to take the next job opportunity. Her resume included Douglas Aircraft, North American Aviation, McDonnell Douglas, Hughes Aircraft, Northrop, Nortronics, Space Technology Laboratories, Convair, and a final return to Northrup in the late 1960s.

While working in the aerospace industry, Mary Nell was assigned a unique opportunity to meet and officially greet two of the Mercury Astronauts.

At Northrup she met Lt. Col. (Ret.) Berl E. "Buck" Pennington, a widower with two children, Norman and Norma.

In February 1966, Mary Nell became a grandmother at the age of 36 when her first grandchild Marcie Noelle was born. In April 1966, she and Buck married in Las Vegas, NV. They moved from Hawthorne, CA to Garden Grove, CA. With their blended family of three teenagers at home and two adult children on their own, they started their life together.

In 1967, Mary Nell and Buck welcomed the birth of daughter Mary Maclore. After moving to Westminster, CA in 1969, they welcomed the birth of daughter Nina Joelle. The Penningtons were a social bunch, and Mary started an annual summer tradition of hosting a "corn feed" on their block. It was complete with watermelon and corn on the cob which she and Buck prepared. This summer tradition went on for years.\

Mary Nell reinvented herself when she and Buck retired in 1978 and moved to Bodfish, CA near Lake Isabella. She never liked her middle name, so she became "Mary." She joined the Methodist Church of Lake Isabella, and with her husband's help they opened the Crafty Lady Ceramics Studio where Mary taught a new hobby to students of all ages and made many lasting friendships.

By 1982, she'd formed the Kern River Ceramic Art Association and began taking china painting lessons. A long-time music lover who played piano since the age of eight years old, Mary joined the Kern Valley Sweet Adelines while continuing her work with ceramics and honing her china painting skills. The next year Mary organized and presided over the "Faire Extraordinaire," which showcased all forms of art. It was a huge success and went on to become an annual event.

Mary's husband was diagnosed with cancer in 1985. They decided to move to Temecula, CA in 1989. Buck died a year later. Mary, a lonely widow living in a rural area, discovered a new ceramic shop in Temecula where she met two new friends who were also china painters. Together they joined the Ramona Porcelain Artists in 1992 and became lifelong friends.

Mary's mother Velma and her stepfather Lyle Vinzant lived in Hemet. In 1994 she loved there to be closer to them. Ever the entrepreneur, she launched the Diamondaires singing group after she was unable to find a local Sweet Adelines chapter in Hemet.

Between 1995 and 2009, Mary held the following positions related to working with the World Organization of China Painters: President of Ramona Porcelain Artists, Calif. WOCP (President twice,1st VP, and treasurer twice), President of Menifee Valley Porcelain Artists twice, WOCP Director-at-Large, and Area VI Publication Chairperson. Many of her china painting pieces have been featured in China Painter Magazine, and have been on display at the World Museum of Porcelain Art in Oklahoma City, OK. She was a certified Duncan china painting teacher and won numerous awards for her work at conventions and shows.

At the age of 72, Mary became a mother for the last time when her West Highland White Terrier dog, Molly by Golly, was born. Molly was the namesake of Mary's best friend from her Hughes Aircraft days. She loved both Mollys dearly.

In early 2011, nearing her 82nd birthday, Mary was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. She underwent major surgery to remove a massive tumor that had crushed two vertebra in her C-spine. She spent two months in a rehab hospital and came home with a spine full of titanium. Without complaint, she endured radiation treatments followed by years of chemotherapy.

In 2013, Mary moved to San Diego to be near family. She resided at the former Arbors Assisted Living (now Atria) making many friends. She was noted for the care and pride she took in her appearance. In June 2018, she stopped all chemo treatments. She'd outlived the 18-36 month prognosis given to her in 2011 by more than twice that length of time!

Mary never gave up. She was a woman who came from a long line of strong independent women who modeled courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. She set an example that her children, extended family, friends, neighbors, students and others, could be proud to carry on. She will be greatly missed. She will be remembered as a loving and dedicated daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend who cared deeply for others.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Berl Eugene Pennington in 1990; brother Jack Allen Haskins in 1997; stepfather Lyle C. Vinzant in 1999; mother Velma Mae (Mills) Haskins Vinzant in 2002; father Denzil Columbus Haskins in 2010; her dog Molly in 2013; son Norman Ellis Pennington in 2014; niece Mary Patricia (Patty Hill) Fitzhenry in 2015; and sister Betty Jo (Haskins) Hill Graham in 2017.

She is survived by her brother James Edward Haskins of Gardnerville, NV; her five children and their spouses: Toni Lynn Taff (Gary) of Little River, CA; Donald Scott Devey (Wendy) of Spokane, WA; Steven Duane Devey (Sharon) of Woodland Park, CO; Maclore Christensen (Lars) of St. Paul, MN; Nina Joelle Baxter (Brian) of San Diego, CA.

She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Marcie, Buck, Sam, Kelly, Matthew, Jeremy, Neredith, Amy, Megan, Taylor, Zoe, Robert, Ivy, and Sylvie; 26 great-grandchildren: Anastasia, Jeffrey, Sean, Felicity, Amanda, Monique, Ryan, Ava, Nicolas, Jacob, Angelina, Joseph, Lucy, Tayden, John, Annamarie, Rigel, Abigail, Armelia, Kyan, Jethro, Melanie, Sophia, Jimi, expected Little One, expected Baby Kerouac; 16 great-great grandchildren : Miya, Jozlin, Braxton, Zian, Braylon, Maddy, Mya, Diego, Jr., Ethan, Kira, Taurean, Aria, Alejandro (AJ), Tristan, Tatum, Truett; niece Polly Ann Thomson (Glen), nephew Kenneth Hill (Tam), nephew Ronald Haskins (Penny), nephew Richard Haskins (Colleen), niece Susan Haskins Zeger, and numerous cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, (858) 748-4101. Immediately following the service, we will gather at the Hampton Inn Poway for reminiscences, fellowship and buffet. Private interment will be held Monday, October 29, 2018 at Riverside National Cemetery.

When asked what she would like for her memorial service, Mary said she wanted "lots and lots of flowers." Alternatively, the family suggests donations to the Hospice of your choice.

Our family wishes to thank The Elizabeth Hospice of Escondido and their staff for their immeasurable assistance, knowledge and comfort shown during our mother's end of life journey. We also wish to thank members of the staff, especially the caregivers who attended our mother during the past five years while she resided at The Arbors/Atria Rancho Penasquitos. Their loving compassion, assistance, and respect for our mother enhanced the enjoyment she experienced during the last years of her life.