Obituary: Erma “Pennie” Mitton

Painting by Chrystine Westphal

Erma “Pennie” Mitton 1924-2017

Our dear mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, co-conspirator and friend passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2017 in Dover, New Hampshire.

Pennie was born April 28, 1924 in Spokane, Washington to Wilbur Hockett and Lilly Nelson. She was one of the first women to be accepted to Gonzaga University.

As a young woman she moved to Seattle where she worked for Boeing as a draftsperson during World War II. Pennie loved to tell stories about her Seattle days, especially about working downtown during the ‘49 earthquake.

She married Luverne Mitton in 1945. Together they embarked on many adventures; they had three children who they raised on three continents. The Mittons traveled the world, living in Japan and Germany.

In 1967 the family returned to Seattle to settle in Lake Forest Park where for many years Pennie hosted a neighborhood New Year’s Eve party. Later in life she had active careers in retail sales and real estate.

In 2011 she relocated to Berwick, Maine to be with her daughter. Pennie transcended generations, remaining independent and young at heart her entire life. She enjoyed driving fast, earning her the nickname “Grandma Leadfoot”. She loved to swim, paint, garden, complete crossword puzzles, visit with her many friends on the phone, and cook for loved ones.

In her memory, enjoy your family, be nice to cats, and be a good friend.

Preceded in death by her husband, mother, father and step-mother, she is survived by her son Robert (Mary Pat) Mountlake Terrace, Washington, daughters Marcie Handy (Mike) Kaysville, Utah and Marnie Ingalls (Rick) Berwick, Maine and six grandchildren Matthew and Brittany Handy, Jessie and Austin Ingalls, Katie and Abbey Mitton, three great grandchildren and brothers Bill Hockett, Bellevue, Washington and Norm Hockett, Fresno, California.