Marjorie Jean "Penny" Bess

Marjorie Jean “Penny” Bess died March 12, 2022 at Allure of Mount Carroll with her daughters by her bedside.

She was born July 15, 1926 in Ottawa, Illinois to Mamie Florence Watts and Charles Jacob Pennebaker. The family of six included her big brother and sister, “Chuck” and Bernita, and little sister, Carol.

Jean, like her siblings, was called Penny by kids at school but her nickname “stuck”. She graduated from Ottawa High School and told of birdwatching led by a science teacher and found a lifelong friend in her English teacher. While a student, she worked for a time at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store but enjoyed more her summers as a camp counselor. Penny’s love of the outdoors and gardening was passed along to all three of her children: Roderick Bess, Kathy Bausman, and Penny Thacher.

While earning a degree in Physical Education from La Crosse State Teachers College, she met Frederick “Rocky” Bess. They married in 1948 and moved from La Crosse to Mount Carroll soon after.

Penny taught P.E. in the grade school and high school in town before joining the faculty at Shimer College. There she also served as Dean of Students and later as a counselor after earning a masters degree from Northern Illinois University at DeKalb. She loved working at Shimer and later, at Mary Crest College in Davenport, Iowa. Penny enjoyed being part of these special communities.

Penny was “young” in spirit and fun to be with so it’s not surprising she had many younger friends who shared her love of nature, travel, tennis, golf, boardgames, art, and reading. She was the last of Piper’s painters, an informal water color group with Dr Piper.

Some of you were her students or taught with her, or remember her as your boy scout den mother or how she helped you as a counselor. Perhaps you served with her as a library trustee or were in her book club or bridge club, or remember her from church. Others were our good neighbors and share special childhood memories of May baskets, sidewalk parades with trikes, potlucks, and kick-the-can.


When people would ask how she was, mom would say, “Pretty good for an old lady”. There will be no services so celebrate her life with a beer, go barefoot, cheer on the Cubs, admire a sunset, read a book and enjoy a good nap.

She will be missed by her children and their families: Rod (Jill) Bess of Mt. Carroll, Kathy (Michael) Bausman of Kewanee, and Penny Thacher of Mt. Carroll; Grandchildren Ryan, Emily, Cassandra, Megan, and Loren; Greatgrandchildren Jackson, Grant, Grace, Cole, and Ivan.

Donations in Penny’s name can be made to the Friends of the Mount Carroll District Library.