Dr. Diane Penney

Dr. Diane H. Penney, McKinney, Texas – Dr. Diane Penney, 73, peacefully passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Walnut Place Nursing Home, Dallas, Texas. She spent her early years in Longview, where she learned to appreciate music and dance at the Shivers School of Dance operated by her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. M. H. Shivers. Dr. Diane Penney graduated from Centenary College, Louisiana, with a B.A magna cum laude in piano performance; from the University of Miami, Florida. She graduated with a M.M in Organ and Music Education; from the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida and an internship and Certification in Music Education K-12. Diane completed her PHD in Musicology and Harpsichord at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas and a two-year Paralegal Program Certificate at the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas. Diane taught part-time at the University of Tampa, Florida, and Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida. She completed her dissertation on Arnold Schoenberg's one-woman opera, Erwartung Expectation, and its background in turn-of the century Vienna. Diane presented academic papers at many national conferences and across Europe and played harpsichord and piano for various concerts at University of Tampa, and Florida Southern College. While she was a graduate student, she worked for five years as a full-time legal secretary in a personal injury defense law firm. After her PHD graduation in Musicology, she worked for five years as Scheduling Coordinator at a medical malpractice law firm in Dallas, Texas. She was hired at Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation in 1995, and worked over 10 years as a litigation senior paralegal, handling the Southern half of the United States. Dr. Penney was an Organist at First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas for 18 years. She was also the organist at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sherman, and College Organist at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Diane was the Dean of the Dallas Chapter, American Guild of Organists for two years. She also taught piano and organ for over fifty years. Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Holloway III. She is survived by three children, Carol White, Susan Penney, and Stephen Penney, two grandchildren, Chris White and Lauren Penney, and four great-grandchildren. She also is survived by two brothers, Dub Holloway and Don Holloway, and numerous family members and friends who loved her dearly. There will be a graveside service at 11a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Grace Hill Cemetery in Longview with Rev. Mike Shutz officiating. The Lupus Foundation of America has been selected for donations in memory of Dr Diane Penney, in lieu of sending flowers. Here is the link for the Lupus Foundation of America website click on the Donate button to make the donation: http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html If you would like Dr. Diane Penney's family to be notified of the donation, here is the recipient information to enter on the donation website page: Recipient Title: Ms Recipient Name: Susan Penney Recipient Street: 6363 Brampton Ct Recipient City: Alexandria Recipient Zip: 22304 Recipient Country: United States You may also send an email to notify the family of the donation, to Diane Penney's daughter, Susan Penney at specul8@hotmail.com .