Penny Evenson
After a long illness, Penny Evenson, age 74, died Dec. 25, 2009, in Yuma Ariz.
She was born to Amzell & Russell Woodward, Sept 7, 1935.
Penny grew up in Centerville, graduated from Goldendale High School in 1953, and married classmate Karl Evenson in September of the same year.
Penny and Karl brought their family up in Portland while working at Tektronics until the early 1970s when they moved to Arizona to begin the family business, Friendly Acres Trailer Park. Penny’s fun loving and outgoing personality became the cornerstone of their success, recruiting family and volunteers to help in the business. Penny never forgot a face or a name and always gave time to the inhabitants and was always the first one on the scene when needed, whether in the middle of the night or the day. Friendly Acres truly became a home away from home for its residents.
Penny was well known for her generous and giving spirit, sponsoring families and charity projects even after her health began to decline.
Karl and Penny loved traveling in their motor home, seeing new places, and meeting friends. She was well known for her great parties and helping to plan RV rallies as they traveled the U.S. and Mexico.
Christmas was Penny’s favorite holiday. She loved giving presents to family and friends and would always find a unique way to thank the residents of Friendly Acres for their loyalty and support.
Karl predeceased Penny in May of 2009. They are survived by two daughters, Teresa Poland of Yuma, Ariz., and Belinda Alnassar of Kuwait; five grandchildren, Michell and Heather of Arizona and Alia, Abdul Hameed, and Dawood of Kuwait; as well as three great-grandchildren. Penny is also survived by her sister Betty Woodward.
Penny was a loving wife and mother and will be missed by all of her family.
A memorial service for friends and family will be scheduled in Goldendale in the middle of August.
