Mary Joan Legg Penn

Joan Legg Penn January 23, 1935 – November 23, 2023 We lost our mother today. It feels like one minute life was life, and then our world blew apart. This beautiful, strong, independent, animal loving, staunch Republican went up the roller coaster ride. This time there was only one way to go. Her journey started in Short Hills, NJ. Daughter of Katherine and C. Wallace Smith. Along the way she graduated from Kent Place and went on to attend Skidmore College; however, she found that a certain Virginian was much more interesting. She married our father John G. Legg (predeceased). A Yankee amongst the Rebels, she found her way living in Washington, D.C. and McLean, Virginia. Along with her husband came Kathy, Jay, and Molly, turning her dreams of being a wife and mother into reality. With a strength most could not find, she moved her three teenagers to Yarmouth, Maine. Here, in this quiet New England town, she and her children had a new beginning. There are many lives our mother lived but her greatest was when she married the love of her life, Judge Carleton Penn (deceased), or to quote mom, he was the “source of the deepest happiness of my life. My Biff.” She found herself back in Virginia for half the year and the other half in Center Conway, New Hampshire. You may have seen her driving with her “Angus 1” license plate or, if you were speeding down Old Mill Road, she was the one shaking her finger at you to slow down. She is survived by her dog Copper, her three children Kathy Manly, Jay Legg, and Molly Nordmark, her grandchildren Graydon Legg, Rachel Legg, Hunter Coburn and Kathy Coburn, her greatgrandchildren Aaliyah Muzzey, Wesley Legg, Maverick Legg and Levi Bridges. She is also survived by her brother Bradley Smith and his children Leigh and Malcolm. While we started this journey together, we had to let you do this last part alone, but we will see you on the other side Mom. There will be no funeral or memorial service. Instead, she would really love it if you donated to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Fryeburg, Maine or Conway Humane Society. Grief is the price we pay for love. - Queen Elizabeth