Beverly Penn

In the United States, the “Roaring Twenties” were a time of economic prosperity and changing social values, including new rights for women, the popularization of radio, and increasing consumerism. Baby Beverly June was born in the last year of this momentous decade, on October 20, 1929, and shared her birth year with the first color TV, the inauguration of President Herbert Hoover, and the creation of the Popeye comic strip.

Beverly’s proud parents, Raymond and Jean Taylor, had made a home for themselves in Detroit, Michigan. Raymond supported his family by working for the Detroit gas company, Michigan Consolidated, while Jean stayed home to run the household and raise the children. In addition, Raymond and Jean also managed an apartment building together. Beverly grew up in Detroit along with her sister, Lois. In her free time, Beverly enjoyed playing games, spending time with friends, and playing with the family dog, a wire-haired terrier named Skeeter. Beverly was also close to her grandparents, and had especially fond childhood memories of going with them to Brendel Lake in Oakland County.

The years sped by, and before she knew it Beverly had grown from a child into a beautiful young lady. She enjoyed her high school years, where she joined the school swim team and picked up the hobby of knitting. Unfortunately, Beverly became ill in her senior year, which prevented her from graduating with her class. Once she had recovered her health, Beverly chose to go to business school instead of completing high school. She enrolled in Dorsey Business School, and was proud to become a certified comptometer operator (the comptometer was the first commercially-successful key-drive mechanical calculator). Armed with her degree, it didn’t take Beverly long to find a job at McCord Radiator in Detroit.

Beverly met the man who would be the love of her life, William “Bill” Joseph Penn, through a co-worker who was a mutual friend. Beverly and Bill hit it off right away, and in due course the happy couple was married at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Detroit. As the years went by, Beverly and Bill were blessed with three daughters, whom they named Cathleen, Carol, and Pamela. After the birth of their first child, Beverly left her job at McCord Radiator in order to become a full-time mom. For summer vacations, Beverly and Bill enjoyed taking their growing family to a resort at Snyder Lake in Lewiston, Michigan, where they spent two weeks every year. Later, after the resort was sold, the Penn family chose a resort just down the road on Tee Lake in Lewiston.

Once the children were grown up, Beverly re-entered the working world. Her first job was a part-time position at a flower shop in Livonia Mall, Jackson’s House of Flowers. In the years to come, Beverly proved to have a flexible skill set, and successively worked at a daycare in Westland, knitted high-end sweaters in Birmingham, and worked at American Greetings, the card company. She continued to enjoy travel, and visited Hilton Head, South Carolina, with close family friends from church, Guy and Bettie Runyan. Beverly also looked forward to the holiday season each year, when children and grandchildren gathered at her house after the Christmas Eve church service to exchange gifts and enjoy corned beef sandwiches. For Easter, Beverly and Bill hosted an annual brunch in their home.

Beverly and Bill were active on an archery league and pinochle club with close friends from high school, whom they are still friends with today. Beverly was a Campfire Girl Leader and loved to knit Christmas stockings, afghans, shawls,blankets, premie hats, and teddy bears for children living in shelters. Gardening was another favorite and she loved to share her flowers with anyone who asked. Beverly's favorite poem was "Footprints" and the butterfly became a meaningful symbol for her (it is associated with receiving a kidney transplant).

Beverly was an active member of her Church and a member of Ruth Circle. She received an honorary pin from the Presbyterian Women, Deacon, Elder, Sunday School teacher, Christian Education Committee. She volunteered at many rummage sales and made many costumes for the musicals. Throughout the years, Bill and Bev sat in the same church pew. She would tell people that "her" pew was the one in line with the beautiful stained glass purple window. The purple window became such a fixture in her family that her children and grandchildren have a small replica of a purple stained-glass window Christmas ornament.

Hardworking, talented, and kind, Beverly was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She taught strict family values and was deeply rooted in church and her faith. She was caring and giving and will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Mrs. Beverly June Penn died on January 21, 2014, at the age of 84. Beverly’s family includes her husband, William; her children, Cathleen (Ken) Elstone, Carol (Charles) Stefanson, and Pam (Vince) Pizzo; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. on Friday at our Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile (East of Merriman). Beverly’s family will receive guests on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of Memorial service 11 a.m., at Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church, 9601 Hubbard, in Livonia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made directly to the church. You may sign the guest book and share a memory prior to arriving at the funeral home at www.TurowskiLifeStory.com.