Betty Penny (McGaughey )
1914 – 2010
Betty enjoyed a wonderful life filled with music, friends, her students, and the love of her family. She was born May 28,1914 in Kokomo, Ind. to Ernest Lee and Nelle Elizabeth Arthur. During the Depression, she was able to pursue her music career in piano and voice.
Betty married her high school sweetheart Justin E. Penny and moved to Calif. in 1945. They had two children, and later divorced in 1950.
Betty became a professional singer and sang with the Masterwork’s Chorale and the Roger Wagner Chorale. She also taught piano for over 60 years with several students continuing to keep in touch over the years. She was truly loved by all.
Betty directed the Crescenta Valley Women’s Chorus for 47 years and after retiring the Chorus still flourishes.
She married John McGaughey in 1973, and they enjoyed 10 wonderful years of traveling abroad and visiting their summer cabin in Three Rivers, Calif. They also embraced a love for music and for each other until John died suddenly.
Betty and her daughter continued traveling to China with “Ambassador of Good Will” Jester Harriston and his chorus and later to London, England for the Christmas and New Years holidays.
Betty moved to Broomfield, Colo. to live with her daughter in 2001, leaving so many friends and memories behind. On her 90th birthday, she and her daughter returned to California to celebrate and to catch up on all those wonderful memories.
While in Colorado, she and her daughter took several scenic trips and attended many concerts at the Chatauqua in Boulder. Betty loved life, and found good in everyone. She had a certain innocence that affected everyone who knew her.
Betty is survived by her daughter Beth Ann Munson of Broomfield, Colo.; grandchildren Kelly Rodriguez and Caryn Edwards of Escondido, Calif.; Diane Jarcow of Beaverton, Ore.; Brenda Babcock of Kuna, Idaho; and six great grandchildren: Roxanne, Dominick, Miranda, Kylie, Ryan, and Zoe.
She was preceded in death by her husband John McGaughey and her brother Richard Arthur. A memorial is being planned in April 2011 at the gravesite of her parents at Forest Lawn – North Hollywood. Arrangements will be announced later.
Betty would have been so happy to have any contributions made to the Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus, 10765 Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105 c/o Sharon Schlarb.