Jackie Penney

JACKIE PENNEY

Our beloved Jackie Penney passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 26, 2012 at her home in Newport Beach, California. Named after her mother, Jackie was born Mary Gladys Lemmon on May 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Jackie’s father Sherman Lemmon was a Baptist minister. Jackie and her sisters Ardith, Eileen, and Donna were all devout Christians; Jackie played the organ and the piano in her Dad’s church.

Jackie attended the prestigious Culter Academy for high school, then followed in her father’s educational footsteps, first at Biola College and then at Westmont College. Jackie married Dalton Melim Davis in 1947 and they had two children, David Michael Davis, and Mari Melim Davis. David and Mari were raised in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

Entering the workplace, Jackie saw her future in the real estate industry and rapidly became a formidable powerhouse, and then titan, of the escrow profession. First in Los Angeles County, and then in Orange County, Jackie created and managed several fabulously successful escrow companies in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including Rolling Hills Escrow, Fidelity Federal Escrow, and finally, Mariner’s Escrow in Newport Beach.

Jackie married attorney Jack Penney in 1980 and they lived in Newport Beach their entire married life. Jackie retired from Mariner’s Escrow in the mid-90s. After retirement, Jack and Jackie enjoyed traveling, attending U.S.C. football games, visiting their children and grandchildren, celebrating the holidays with the family in Seattle and at Smoketree Ranch in Palm Springs, and playing her baby grand piano at special events to the delight of her family and friends.

Jackie is survived by her husband Jack; her children David Davis (and Carol Davis) and Mari Offenbecher (and Peter Offenbecher); and her grandchildren Cooper Offenbecher (and Lauren Offenbecher) and Whitney Murphy (and Paul Murphy); her sisters Ardith, Eileen, and Donna; and her many nieces and nephews. We all loved her dearly and we are missing her so much.

A memorial service was held on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.