Nelda Maggie Pennington was born January 29th, 1955 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma to Maggie Lee (Lucas) and George Delbert Powers. She passed away Thursday, January 7th, 2021 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 9 days.
Nelda, lovingly known by many as “Mimi”, grew up in the Durham and Crawford areas. She attended school at Crawford until she transferred to Reydon where she graduated in 1973. During her senior years she was married to Don Pennington on December 30, 1972 at Durham, Oklahoma. After their marriage they made Reydon and Dempsey areas their home. Mimi was a farm wife and helped Don with the farming and also raising cattle. In the late 90’s Mimi found employment at the Hitching Post and remained there for the better part of 5 years. In 2002 her plan was to stay at home and care for her grandchildren, but as with most things, the unexpected generally happens and Mimi began her daycare keeping other children in the community. In August of 2020 the last child that she was keeping began pre-k and she was able to retire. Mimi enjoyed gardening, cooking and especially frying chicken for funeral dinners, making deer jerky, Christmas lights and all the decorations that went along with that holiday and making PB&J sandwiches for the Cheyenne-Reydon baseball team. Above all she loved watching her grandchildren participate in any activity, being their #1 fan and spending time with all her family. Mimi was active in the community and was instrumental in organizing the childrens Reydon Easter egg hunt, a member of the Reydon American Legion and a member of the Reydon Church of Christ.
She is preceded in death by her parents. Mimi is survived by her husband, Don, of the home; 2 children, Perry Pennington and wife, Melody, Dempsey, OK and Gayla Smith and husband, Keith, Reydon, OK; 6 grandchildren, Jayden, Chance, Tanner and Drake Smith, Marli and Rylan Pennington; 2 brothers, John Powers and wife, Kay, Reydon, OK and Rick Powers and wife, Susan, Reydon, OK; 1 sister, Danna Kent and husband, Monte, Elk City, OK; bonus grandchildren, Tori and Lance Ahrens and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services were held Monday, January 11th, 2021 at the Reydon School Gymnasium at 10:30 officiated by Chuck Milner.
Burial followed at Dempsey Cemetery under the direction of Chris Whinery and the staff of Affordable Cremation Service-West.