Vibrant devotion to her family and faith immediately comes to mind about Penny LaHaye, who passed away peacefully at the age of 70 on May 6, 2018 holding hands with her daughter, Dawn, and good friend Judy. She is predeceased by her husband of 18 years, Richard LaHaye. Penny is survived by Donald R. Lawrence, her son James Lawrence, and daughters Dawn Powell and Katina Lawrence; her foster-daughter, Jenn Jordan; as well as 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Penny was born in Washington, D.C. in 1947 and the eldest daughter of James L. Perry Sr. and Jean Perry. At the age of 15, her father married JoAnn L Perry where, being raised in Maryland with her older brother James Jr., she now had two sisters: Deborah Bondurant and Elizabeth Sorensen; and brothers: Arthur Perry; Elmer Perry; and Earl Perry. Growing up, her family had her undivided attention, as the Perry siblings participated together in the marching band or majorettes. Penny graduated from DuVall High School in Maryland.
Penny’s contributions to the betterment of her community are numerous: decades of working in and probably her life’s passion, AWANA; counseling women with unplanned pregnancy to raise or have the child adopted, and organizing a church ministry to provide comfort and friendship to home-bound elderly members. The list is considerably longer so suffice to say she lived her life as an example of God’s love for younger generations and those in need. Penny positively influenced countless people who will always remember her as a trusted and generous friend, her devotion to her Christian faith, and a woman who greeted new challenges armed with a strong moral character and bright smile.
For entertainment, she expressed her outgoing wit and charm through verbal sparing with her soulmate and husband, Dick LaHaye; adding silliness and color to the world with friends from the Red Hat Society; and fellowship with lifelong friends the Claypool family. Many weekends and holidays were spent with her children and grandchildren having a lot of laughs over her home cooked meals and board games.
A celebration of Penny’s life will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018, 11:00 a.m., at Meridian Baptist Church, 660 S. 3rd St., El Cajon, California, 92019. In lieu of flowers, donations in Penny LaHaye’s memory may be made to World Vision, which provides for the needs of impoverished children worldwide.
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