Penny Fay Etheredge, a compassionate, humble, loving, and supportive woman, passed away on June 10, 2023, at the age of 65. Born on July 17, 1957, in Canyon, Texas, Penny lived a life full of love, laughter, and cherished memories. As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This quote perfectly embodies the essence of Penny’s life and the impact she had on those around her.
Join us this Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. as we celebrate Penny’s life. Funeral Services will be held at Lighthouse Funeral Home Chapel, 3707 Wolflin Ave. with Pastor Bob Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Garden’s Cemetery, 14200 Texas Plains Trl., I-27, Amarillo, Texas 79119.
The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.
Penny spent her career as a salesclerk in retail, where her friendly demeanor and supportive nature made her a favorite among both coworkers and customers. In her free time, Penny enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, dancing, laughing, and sipping her morning coffee. She adored playing with her grandchildren, making each one feel special and loved. Penny’s children and grandchildren were her world, and she often said that what mattered most to her was the love she had for them.
Penny is survived by her daughters, Sherry Goodman, Tosha Willson, Cindy (Christopher) Blackmon; sons, Chad Willson and Alan Moore; sister, Donna Rector; brother, Billy (Gloria) Kirkwood; and her beloved grandchildren (Memaw’s babies), Austin Brewer, Paul Goodman II, Caedyn Smith, Sean Osborne, Jillian Lindsey, James Stewart, Amy Willson, Trinity Willson, Elena Willson, Alexis Willson, and Michael Willson; ex-husband / friend Tony Willson. She also has many nieces and nephews (spouses and children), 4 great grandchildren and loving friends she thought of as family.
Penny is preceded in death by her father, James Kirkwood; mother, B. Virginia Allen-Kirkwood; brother, Eddie Kirkwood; brother-in-law, Charles Rector; and ex-husband, Jerry Etheredge.
Aunt Penny you are missed already. I will always miss the memories you shared at the kitchen table at Grandma Kirkwoods and yours. Your were my beautiful Aunt who was always there when I needed you. I love you. Heaven Gained a beauty soul.
Oh her beautiful smile! Penny was a good friend to me, and I have many cherished memories of her… the days we sat, sipped coffee, shared a meal, and talked about everything, and anything and sometimes nothing at all of any great consequence. Our shared moments of life’s defeats and victories, anger and and joy, our children and grandchildren, and dear friends and not so great foes are burned deep in the caverns of my mind. The thing I remember the most though, is her beautiful smile. It was a smile that began as a sheepish grin, with just the corners of her mouth curled up. It started from the depths of her heart and suddenly was so big and so sincere that it shown brightly through her eyes and created a glow on her face that could light up the world around her. You couldn’t help but to smile back in hopes that your smile would brighten her world too. With heartfelt tears I am smiling today because I know hear heart was right with Jesus when God called her home to be with him and because of that I can know that I will see that beautiful smile again. I can envision the smile starting in her heart and shining through her eyes when she sees her Jesus, face to face for the first time, or walks on those streets of gold or dances on those irresistibly fluffy clouds! I know I will see her again and I hope we can share a good ole cup of strong coffee while she she shows me around heaven, but if they don’t have coffee in heaven, meeting my Jesus face to face and her smile will be enough to make it a perfect reunion for me. Rest in peace dear friend, and prayers for all that knew and loved her!