Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1957 RJC

Jonell Penney JONELL YVONNE PENNEY PHILLIPP PEACE, 77, passed away Sept, 10, 2017 in Glendale, AZ where she had been hospitalized with dementia. Burial was at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale. She was born Jan. 12, 1940 to Dodds Penney & Cozette Wilkinson Penney (RHS-1931, RISD teacher) in Denton, TX. Shortly after, the family moved to a house on her grandfather's farm in Ranger, TX where her brother Raymond Dayle Penney (RHS-1962) was born. The home they lived in had electricity but no running water or indoor plumbing, and they had an ice box instead of a refrigerator. Jonell went to Ranger Elementary and then Ranger High School where she graduated in 1957. Growing up on a farm, she had a lot of interest in animals. She was a member of Future Farmers of America, and she won Grand Champion several times at the Eastland County Fair with her sheep. After high school, she attended Ranger Jr. College and then Texas Women's University in Denton. She received her teaching degree and took her first teaching job in Colorado. In 1963, she moved to Phoenix and started working as a librarian for the Alhambra School District. She continued with them for 30+ years, serving as president of the Alhambra District Association of Classroom Teachers (ADACT) for several years. She was also editor-in-chief of the ADACT newsletter for several years. Through those years of service to the school district, she continued her own education and eventually earned her Master's Degree in Education. After moving to Phoenix in 1963, she married Ed Philipp, and they had two sons, Brent and Rob. Being a teacher and a librarian, she valued education, so she made sure the boys had strict guidelines on what school grades were expected. Since she had the summers off, she and the boys were able to make many trips back to Ranger and later Baytown after her mother moved there. As sometimes happens, she and Ed separated in 1984. In 1985, Jonell married Roy Peace, a fellow teacher in the Alhambra School District. They married during a trip to Washington D.C. for the National Education Association's national conference. With teaching in common, much of Jonell and Roy's life involved teaching. They took a trip to China with a group of other educators and, along with the usual tourist activities, they were able to tour some of the schools in China. They toured a range of schools, from elementary to college, to see how they compared with our schools here. After the school tour, they had dinner with many of the education leaders for China. From her early years on the farm, Jonell always had a love of animals, especially chickens. She had live chickens as pets and for fresh eggs, but she also liked things with chickens on them. She had knick knacks with chickens, pictures of chickens, and anything you could think of with chickens on them. Jonell was also crafty. She loved to make things. Through the years, she tried her hand at different arts and crafts. She did macramé, stained glass, jewelry making, & in retire- ment, she settled into doll making. She took numerous classes and competed in doll shows, eventually moving up to expert class in the shows. She won numerous awards for her dolls. Because she had such a love of doll making, she wanted to share with others. She began teaching doll making classes herself. Jonell partnered with her friend, Marianne, to form "Miss Mouse and Chicken Coop Creations" to teach doll making classes and sell supplies. She continued to make dolls until her failing health made it too difficult. Jonell's enthusiasm for life and her infectious smile will be sorely missed by her many friends and family. She is survived by her husband Roy Peace, sons and family Brent & Linda Phillipp of Glendale AZ, Robby and Stefani Phillipp, granddaughter (all of California), brother Dayle Penney of Azle TX, and cousins David, Tati & son Winston of Round Rock, TX.