Mary Aurelia Pennington's Obituary
Mary Aurelia Pennington, age 86, of West Fork, Arkansas passed away peacefully from this life Saturday, July 9, 2022. She was born to the late Lloyd and Lelia Mae Rodgers on April 24, 1936, in Monticello, AR. After graduating high school in 1954, she went to Little Rock to work in the cafeteria at the state hospital. On July 15, 1956, she married her high school sweetheart, Nolan Pennington, who had started his career in the Air Force.
Her interests and hobbies included family, sewing, reading, bowling, selling Avon, an owner and operator of a photo processing business, and being an active member in the various churches she attended with each military move. She committed her life to Christ as a teenager and throughout her lifetime she was involved in teaching children’s Sunday School classes, helping in youth ministries, and serving in women’s groups as well. During the many times her husband was deployed or on alert for an extended period of time, Aurelia had to perform the duties of parenting and running a household on her own. Though at times it was stressful and full of challenges, she managed exceptionally well to maintain stability and routine in the home.
Aurelia loved spending time in the kitchen creating delicious meals for family and friends. Many times, groups from the church or young, military personnel were invited to their home for food and fellowship. Her homemade French bread was a standard request for family dinners and church potlucks. Her favorite dessert, Banana Split Pie, became a family favorite as well.
She was a collector of Lladros, cookie jars, angels, and nutcrackers. She loved decorating her home for Christmas and the day the Christmas lights came down was a day too soon.
She was the beloved wife, of sixty-five years of Nolan Pennington, and the cherished mother of LaWonna, Darryl, and Tony and their respective families. The treasured grandmother of six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. A great friend to all who knew her. She is survived by her sister, Christine Pennington and brother, Ervin Rodgers.
The relatives and friends of Aurelia are respectfully invited to attend her memorial service at Trinity Fellowship, 1100 East Rolling Hills Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703. The service will begin at 2:00pm, Sunday, July 17, 2022. Please feel free to dress comfortably and wear a little purple in honor of her favorite color. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. An organization that she has supported since 2010. Arrangements are by Nelson Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville, AR.
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