Obituaries for the week of 12/5/17
Judith Elaine Collier Wright
Born Feb. 8, 1939, Judith entered her final resting place on Oct. 2, 2017.
Judith met Donald Collier at a Red Bluff Dance, married and had three children, Robert, Rhonda and Richelle. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was fondly called “GGMA” by Peyton, a nickname that stuck. She went on to get her LVN license at Lassen Community College and started her career at Carewest Rehabilitation Center, where one year she was awarded Nurse of the Year. She proudly taught a Certified Nursing Assistant class. Together, Mom and Dad moved to Fortuna, California where they enjoyed the coast area. Mom again held a nursing position that she enjoyed. Later on in life, she would remain a great wife, nurse and caregiver for Dad in his valiant fight with cancer. Mom was lucky enough to meet and marry a man a lot like our father, Walter Wright. She said she was lucky to have two great loves in her life after Walter was tragically killed in an accident.
She considered Westwood Assembly of God her “church family,” and she truly loved everyone there. Her face would light up the few times she could manage to get kids and grandkids from all over to join her at church. Every Friday she played a friendly game of Rumicube with Kat Sweger, whose friendship she cherished deeply. Speaking of friends, she had many that passed before her and left behind that she deeply cared for.
Many fond childhood memories involved camping, deer camp, backpacking or visiting the Oregon coast. Dad would get us there and Mom could whip up great camp food out of whatever. She was an avid reader and loved watching the show Survivor, no matter how bad I teased her about it.
Judith is survived by brothers, sisters, step brothers and sisters, kids, step kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many more loved ones.
At Mom’s request to be cremated, she will be placed at the foot of her parent’s grave and a Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. I’ll see you in Heaven, Mom. What a joy that will be… We love you and miss you and Dad so much. XXOO
Patrick Lucius Penick, Sr.
With deep sorrow, we wish to announce the passing of Patrick Lucius Penick, Sr., on Nov. 18, 2017.
He lived his life to good purpose as a selfless and devoted husband, father and community member.
Pat was born May 8, 1936, to Ann and James Penick. He was the second of five sons. His father was a career Naval man. Pat attended five high schools where his passion was playing football.
In addition to his love for sports, he developed a great love of reading early on which he maintained throughout his life.
After attending William and Mary, he graduated from San Jose State University and received a master’s degree from Santa Clara University. At San Jose State in 1956, he won the annual Novice Boxing Tournament. It was at San Jose State where he met the love of his life, Marilyn Gropper. They married Jan. 31, 1959.
Pat and Marilyn had six children. Pat taught high school English in Santa Clara for 20 years where he was a cross-country coach and CTA president. In 1979, he and Marilyn with Robert and Mary Adams moved their families to Lake Almanor. After a short stint building homes, Pat taught English at Chester High School for a few years and was an assistant wrestling coach even longer. Four of his children graduated from Chester High School, and two, AnneMarie Fiegener and Jim Penick, became teachers — AnneMarie at Chester and Jim in the Redding area.
For the next 30 years, Pat was a realtor, first with Busy Bee Realty and later with Kehr O’Brien Coldwell Banker Realty. He retired in 2015.
During his time at Almanor, he was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church.
Pat enjoyed spending time with his family; his daily swims through the summer, playing board games, croquet, bridge and making banana milkshakes and popcorn for the grandchildren who affectionately called him Papa.
Survived by his wife, Marilyn Penick; children, Claire, Pat, AnneMarie (Alan), Joe, Jim and Tom (Darlene); brothers, Jim (Annie), Jack (Evelyn), Jerry (Susan) and Mike (Janet); and 14 grandchildren. Pat and Marilyn would have celebrated 59 years of marriage Jan. 31, 2018.
There was a funeral mass on Friday, Dec. 1, at Our Lady of the Snows Church, Lake Almanor, followed by a reception in the church hall.