The Lord sent Florence Edna "Penny" Stuart to start her earthly mission on May 31, 1928. She started her mission in Brookings, South Dakota, with her parents William August and Edna Leolia Peterson. Two years later she was joined by her sister, and best friend for the rest of her life, Leolia May "Lee" Peterson Windsor. The family moved around South Dakota for a while, finally settling in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she went to school. While in high school during World War II she obtained her nickname, Penny. There was a contest in the high school to see who could collect the most pennies in a copper drive for the war effort. Penny won, and carried the name for rest of her life. She never did tell us how many pennies were collected. On September 30, 1945, Penny married her first husband, Lenard O. Holiman. With Lenard she had 3 children, Nancy May, Douglas Lynn, and Rebecca Susan. This family moved all over the western part of the United States. Their marriage ended in 1964. Penny then took on the role of single mother and worked many different jobs to take care of three children. While working various jobs, she took night classes to obtain her GED, and then went on to business school and graduated with honors. During that time she worked in the potato fields and processing plants. She worked in one of the first Lay's potato chip plants in Idaho. She worked as a waitress, in a furniture store, grocery store, and many other various jobs before finally going to work for the telephone company. She started with Ma Bell, then the subsequent GTE, and Verizon, finally retiring in 1992. Also during this time she met the love of her life Gilbert "Gil" W. Stuart, and they married on April 15, 1966. When they met, Gil was working at the post office in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Shortly after they were married Gil reenlisted in the Army and so once again she moved around the country, but this time happily. She and Gil had a daughter, Beverly Ann. Penny and Gil finally settled in Everett, Washington, where sadly in 1986 Gil passed away. Penny and her sister Lee were both now widows and retired. They traveled and went back and forth between their respective homes for several years before they finally settled and built a home together in 1993 in Kennewick, Washington. Here they both spent their final years together. It's hard to speak of Penny without also speaking of Lee. They became known around town as "The Sisters". They even received mail addressed with that title. Penny loved to read, cook, shop, travel, laugh and have fun with family and friends. She was able to see all of her children grow and succeed in their chosen professions, and see her 7 grandchildren: Sabrina Jeff, Bruce Jennie, Jessica Jay, Stephanie, Bobby Ray, Tiffany and Shelby; her 8 great-grandchildren: Maranda, Heather Cameron, Bradley, Douglas, Abigail, Robert, Dorian, and Cooper; and her 4 great-great-grandchildren: Samantha, Ross, Isabella and Hunter. Penny was extremely proud of her 5 generations and had much love in her heart for all of them. Penny completed her earthly mission and was taken home by the angels on January 3, 2013. After becoming ill in 2011 she said many times that she was ready to go and be with those that had left before her and that she was not afraid for she knew she was going to a wonderful place with God. Penny was preceded in death by her parents, both of her husbands, and her beloved sister, Lee. She is survived by all of her children: Nancy Richard Lenhart, Kennewick, WA; Douglas Karen Holiman, Phoenix, AZ; Rebecca Chuck Dolan, Clarksville, TN; and Beverly Stuart, Federal Way, WA; all of her grandchildren of all ranks, many nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family. In lieu of flowers, Penny requested donations be made to Hospice, 2108 West Entiat, Kennewick, WA. A "Celebration of Life" Memorial service will be held Sat. January 12, 2012 at 11 am at Pasco Church of the Nazarene, 7305 W. Court Street, Pasco, Washington. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Hillcrest Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.HillcrestMemorialCenter.com