Verna Harris Pennington

Verna Harris Pennington, age 103, died May 30, 2012 at the Clarksville Community Health and Rehab Center. She was born April 2, 1909 at the foot of Redlick Mountain in Johnson County Arkansas to Wiley Vernon and Lydia Morgan Harris. The family moved to Clarksville in 1916, and she spent her entire life in this city. She graduated from the College of the Ozarks in 1931 with a B.A. in English and French. She held a Special Certificate in Piano from Miss Virgie Poynor, and was awarded a Master of Science degree in Distributive Education from U of A in 1952. She married John Powers Pennington in July 1931. Following early years in the Ozark, Jamestown and Hurie Schools, most of her teaching career was spent at the Clarksville Jr.-Sr. High School. She retired from teaching in 1973 after 42 years of service. She took great pride in the successes of her vocational students who were frequently recognized in national competitions. A member of the ARA and NEA, she was a past president of the Arkansas Distributive Education Teachers Association. She belonged to The First United Methodist Church in Clarksville where she taught Sunday School and was active in United Methodist Women, the Grace Circle and Mustard Seed. She was a charter member and past president of Chapter Q PEO Sisterhood and a Lifetime Member of the Johnson County Historical Society. A member of College Women's Study Club, she volunteered at the Johnson County Library and was a member and past president of the Johnson Regional Hospital Auxiliary. Hobbies included gardening, sewing, genealogy and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a voracious reader, an avid bridge player and a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, reminding her sons frequently that brotherly love should always trump political differences. She was predeceaded by her husband, John Powers; her brother, J. Morgan Harris of Grand Junction, Colo. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Don Pennington of Clarksville, John Powers (Jan) Pennington, Amarillo, Texas; grandchildren include Thomas W. Pennington, Clarksville; Aimee Sanders, Rogers; John Herrick Pennington, Fayetteville; John Van Pennington, Florence, S.C.; Cary Kelley, Round Rock, Texas; Colby Barrow, Amarillo, Texas; and nine great-grandchildren: Rachel, Saul Harris, Nathan, Madison, Griffin, Gray, Alex, Jessie and Logan. Memorials may be made to Clarksville First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 535; The Johnson County Historical Society Heritage Center, 131 W. Main, Clarksville, Ark. 72830 or the University of the Ozarks. Memorial service will follow after the private burial at 3 p.m., Friday at first United Methodist church with Rev. David Hanshaw officiating. Visitation will be 6 -7 p.m., Thursday at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel. Pallbearers, Harve Taylor, Bob Hurley, David Pyron, Jack Patterson, Jack Heil, Lu Zach, Bill Galloway, Turner Whitson.