Mary Maudine “Cricket” Penn Denison

Mary Maudine “Cricket” Penn Denison, 91, passed away December 30, 2017, in Lubbock, TX with her daughters by her side. She was born December 31, 1925, in Silverton, TX, to Isaac Orton “Jake” Penn and Alice Virginia “Jenny” Whiteley Penn.  She was raised in Silverton and Lockney, TX and graduated from Floydada High School.

She met her husband, Howard Gilmer Denison of Floydada, at a traveling roller-skate rink event. Gilmer moved to Los Angeles to work at North American Aviation. He proposed marriage by mail and telegram.  Finally, she rode the train from Lubbock to L.A. They immediately married per her Dad’s instruction August 28, 1942. Later, Gilmer was drafted.  Mary lived in Floydada with his parents and graduated from Floydada High School while Gilmer served on the European Front. 

Among her talents and accomplishments: She won first place in elocution in Lubbock at 14 reading “How Did You Die” by Edmund Vance Cooke. She wrote a wonderful book of poetry, “Through the Years and Forevermore”. She assisted her husband in the design of homes they built under H. G. Denison Construction many years in Lubbock.  She modeled in Lubbock. She helped run Denison Antiques.  She helped buy and sell gold and silver and worked gun shows.  They traveled the world!  She faced life challenges head-on with enthusiasm! She was beautiful inside and out and loved by all. She will be greatly missed as the family matriarch.

She is survived by daughters, Lane Teaff and husband Bob, and Penny Denison and Kent Mings; grandchildren, Ty Ritchey, Sierra Tye and Justin Schmidt, Kelley Hobbs, Tammy Gray, Brandi Dountz; great grandchildren, Garrett, Caleb and Carly Ritchey, Zachary and Brady Hobbs, Melissa Gray, Megan Harris, Zoe and Mia Dountz; and 3 great-great grandchildren, Elliott and Gertie Davis and Cambrie Ritchey. She is also survived and loved by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Nathan Terrell “Terry” Denison and son Roland Keith Denison; grandson, Shannon Trent Ritchey; sister, Aline Turner; brothers, Burl, Truett and Toby Penn; and her parents.