Penny Earle Mcdonald

Penny Earle McDonald, born April 1st 1970, passed away surrounded by her family peacefully in her home on May 2nd 2024. Penny was preceded in death by her parents Joyce Lynn Cox (McKinney) and Clarence JR Cox and her late husband Mark Steven Earle. Penny is survived by her children Ty Earle and wife Sidney, Kateland Earle Hatley and husband Jared, Caraline McDonald, Garrett McDonald, Nathan McDonald, brother Ricky Cox, special grandson Jackson Earle, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

Penny was a friends friend, enjoying good company and adventure. She was carefree in spirit, loved the little things in life, and would never sweat the small stuff. She was spontaneous and never met a stranger. She could easily become lost in conversations whether she knew you her whole life or just a short while. Even at the end of her time on earth, she loved to hear the front door open to see a friend come in to visit.

Penny loved the outdoors, from the beaches in Carolina to the mountains in Tennessee, she enjoyed all of the roads traveled in between. She could easily get lost for hours in her garden and truly loved all things in nature, just like her parents. She was artistic in many ways which you could see in her decorating skills in and outdoors. She had a knack for finding different random pieces and making it into something truly beautiful to look at. She had an eye for landscape and possessed true talent for bringing life into her gardens and others with her inherited green thumb. You could find her in the back yard with a bonfire going with good music alone or surrounded by her friends and family.

Penny was a loving mom. She loved spending quality time with her children, whether it was a fun trip or binge watching a show together. She could play an uno game for hours, spend the day together in the pool, take an art class, and even catch a football or baseball game. She knew the vast difference of interests with each of her children and made sure to spend time with each of them doing what they loved too. She recently gained a new title, Mamaw Penny, which she fully embraced and spent her time sharing all the sweet treats, singing, and dancing with Jackson.

In the early years she loved putting on a high quality firework show in the summer. Later she passed that on to her children and enjoyed watching them share that passion. She loved a good hug and especially enjoyed a good rain storm for a long nap.

Penny was loved by so many special friends, neighbors, and family members. Her smile and contagious laugh will be missed by all. Her family will celebrate her life together privately, just as Penny wanted. We ask that you celebrate her too, in your own way that she would’ve enjoyed.

“Come to the forest to visit me, down by the roots of a tree. Waste not your tears on cold stone graves water a flower for me.

Give me to the earth when my winter comes, bury me deep in the ground. Mark not my place with statues or caves, find me where life can be found.

Come to the woods when autumn leaves turn golden and copper and red. Rustle up memories, seeds of joy stored. Kick up the leaves in my stead.

Visit a garden on warm summer days, keep company with blossoms and bees. Remember my heart blooms forever in yours, take comfort from shushing shade trees.

Let springtime surround you with life and the living, Birdsong and budding green leaves. Look up at the sky, give thanks for the sun and rain. When you think of me, smile more than grieve.

Come to the forrest to visit me, down by the roots of a tree. Live every day that is given to you, water a flower for me.”

-Come to the Forest to Visit Me by Lurana Brown