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Penny Dunn, 84

“Penny” is just one of the many names that people referred to her as. Some of her favorites were Gramma, Mom, Aunt Penny and Mrs. Dunn. She was born on Sept. 15, 1932, in Oak Creek, Colo. She met her husband, Jess, in Kellogg, Idaho, and in 1955 they were married in Coeur d’Alene. She and Jess were involved with a variety of pursuits outside the devotion they showed to their children and grandchildren.

One of these outside pursuits was bottle digging, which had them venturing all over North Idaho to old ghost towns and mining camps. These forays produced an amazing collection of old bottles and artifacts, but of greater value is the collection of memories of the family and friends who shared these outings with them.

Another of these pursuits was the grand old wooden cabin cruiser they kept moored at one of the marinas on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Penny loved evening cruises on the lake and anchoring in one of the secluded bays for dinner.

Penny also loved the summers she spent at Kelso Lake. The little camp trailer they parked there was their abode in paradise to which all were invited to share. They also kept a little row boat there that provided opportunities for kids and grandkids to witness the beauty of North Idaho — to become a part of it — to create the first ripples on a glassy lake and feel the mist on their faces as they glided across its surface just before dawn.

Back on the home front, there was always a fresh baked cake or other goodies waiting for Jess when he stopped by on his coffee break during his years as an appliance repairman. In fact, Jess wasn’t the only one to benefit from her cooking interests. Holiday dinners (especially Thanksgiving and Christmas) were grand affairs with tables set end-to-end to make one great, huge table that could seat the whole gang. It would soon be completely covered with platters and dishes, all steaming scrumptious scents of Season’s Greetings. She would work herself to a frazzle, but it was a good frazzle because those were the times she loved the most — serving others. Her care and concern for others will always be one of her most defining characteristics and all were recipients of her sweet, giving nature.

Penny found great satisfaction working with her friends and classmates as they planned reunions for the class of ’50 and civic projects for the community they loved. She was also involved with various Bible study groups and attended the Nazarene Church.

She is survived by her three daughters, Dena Dodson (Jim) of Vancouver, Wash., Bobbi Bedegi (Toni) of Riggins, Idaho, and Luanne Green (Larry) of Hailey, Idaho; her seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She passed away peacefully on July 12, 2017, in Meridian, Idaho.

There will be a celebration of her life held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at the gazebo in Phippeny Park, 827 N. Eighth St., Coeur d’Alene.