RAY and NORA CLARK PENRY

   Raymond Thomas Penry was born Jan. 26, 1898, in Pilot Grove Twp. He was the son of James Monroe and Priscilla Roberts Penry. .

    Nora Melvina Clark, was born April 8, 1900, in Schuyler Co., Missouri. Her parents were Andrew Jackson and Rhoda Jane Cleeton Clark. Nora moved to Red Oak, May 7, 1917, and started working at the Johnson Hotel. Nora and Ray met on June 27, 1917, and were married several weeks later, on July 9, 1917, at Red Oak. This summer will mark their 62nd wedding anniversary.

     Ray has worked on several farms in the Elliott area over the past years. Some of the farmers he worked for were James Good, Bert Vannorstrand, Charles Reed, Charles Shields, Henry Stanton, and Maude DeWitt. Ray and Nora lived in the Elliott, Stennett, and surrounding areas most of their lives. They moved to Seattle, Washington in 1962, and they are now living in Bothell, Washington.

     Ray and Nora are the parents of nine children: (1) Myrtle Marie, born Oct. 21, 1919 in Red Oak. She married Victor Hilliard in 1937, at Corning, Iowa. They were the parents of eight children, Larry, Ramona, Geraldine (Jeri), Verna, Victoria, Rodger Kent, Kevin, and William. The last two were stillborn. (2) Fred James, born May 31, 1921, northeast of Red Oak. Fred was married twice, first to Mary Alice Egge, in 1938 at Red Oak. They had three children, Viola, Dale and Raymond. The second time was to Genevieve Marie Walter of Parsons, Kansas in 1946. He had two daughters by this marriage, Freda, and Lucille. Fred was in the service from June 1944 to Dec. 1945. (3) Landis Andrew was born Feb. 12, 1923, and died Feb. 25, 1923. He is buried at the Frankfort Cemetery. (4) Leota Mae was born Mar. 3, 1924.  She married Chester Frederick Duncan in 1940 at Henderson, Iowa. They have three children, Chester Jr., Dixie and Steve. Leota and Chet lived in Elliott a number of years before moving to California. (5) Betty Dean was born Oct. 18, 1926 at Elliott. Betty was married several times. Her second marriage was to Lester H. E. Johnson in 1946. They had five children, Vicki Dean, Edward, Kenneth, Joseph and Colleen; (6) Hazel Darlene was also born in Elliott, on Dec. 29, 1928. She was married to Herbert H. Cook in 1946. They had seven children, Harriet, Harold, Howard (twins), Homer, Herbert, Helen, and Hope; (7) Georgia Pauline was born May 23, 1931 at Elliott. She graduated from Elliott in 1949. She was married June 23, 1950 to James Leslie Yost, at Mt. Clemes, Michigan, where they were both stationed while in the Air Force. They have four children, James Jr., Michael, Yolanda and Timothy. All four of the children have served in the Armed Forces; (8) Thomas Raymond Jr., was born July 16, 1933. He married Janice Odessa Bird, June 7, 1952 at Elliott. Tom entered the Air Force in Dec. 1952, and is still a member of the Reserves. They had six children, Thomas Raymond II, Steven, Kathaleen, Craig (stillborn), Douglas and Sonseach Rae. Tom and Janice are now living in Acampo, California. (9) Samuel Walter was born Feb. 12, 1936 at Elliott. Sam was in the National Guard in 1953, then entered the Marine Corp in June 1954. Sam was married to Barbara Nadine Long, on Oct. 24, 1956. They have five children, Gary, Landis, Theresa, Kevin and Joan. Sam and Barbara are now living in Bothell, Washington. Sam operates the A-1 Gardening and Landscaping business in Bothell.

    Ray and Nora also have 51 great-grandchildren.