Donald Lee Pennell

D. Lee Pennell, age 87, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016 at his home with family by his side. Lee was born Dec. 5, 1929 to Claude and Anna (Duffy) Pennell on Union Creek, near Colfax, Washington. He moved with his family to the Clyde area northwest of Prescott in 1936. He graduated from Prescott High School in 1948 and attended one year of college at Washington State University. He married Carole Brown on November 18, 1950, in Walla Walla. He farmed in partnership with his father, Claude, at Prescott, Dayton and Dry Creek, south of Milton-Freewater until his father’s death in 1966. Lee continued farming at Prescott and Dry Creek until his retirement.

As a young man, Lee participated in rough stock events in area amateur and ranch rodeos like those held at the Demase Bergevin ranch near Lowden. He was known as a strong competitor and often referred to as one of the best saddle bronc riders to come out of the Northwest. In later years Lee judged rough stock events at the Dayton rodeo, Starbuck Jr. Rodeo and helped in the arena at the Frontier Days Rodeo in Walla Walla.

At 18 yrs old Lee joined the Walla Walla Wagon Wheelers riding in the pony express and relay races until his early 30’s, then serving many years as drill master; and helping and leading the annual trail rides the Wagon Wheelers hosted. He was known for his traditional pony express running, swinging mount. There was one memorable pileup with another horse during a pony express race at the Walla Walla racetrack. As Lee was mounting his horse, Amigo, and leaving his station in front of the grandstands, an out of control horse collided with them. Horse and rider crashed through the track railing, shattered the race tote board, and knocking the statistician off the tote board. Carole remembers that she jumped up to catch up with Lee under the grandstands. She said he still had his whip in is hand, told her he was okay and to go sit back down. Years later Lee was awarded the Wagon Wheelers Honorary Lifetime Service Membership in appreciation of many years of dedication, support and extraordinary work.

Lee was active with horse racing in the area for many years. He was president of the Waitsburg Days of Real Sport for approximately 15 years. He assisted with the horse races during the SE Washington fair. He helped pony race horses, served as a field judge, race steward and ran the tally board for the Frontier Days Rodeo for the rough stock events. In 1966, Lee was the Walla Walla Fair Parade marshal in honor of his late father, Claude Pennell. He also served as a field judge for the Pendleton Round-up relay races and he was the 1994 parade marshal for the Waitsburg Days of Real Sport.

He was a 4-H leader while his daughters Vickie and Yvonne were members. He was also a member of the Waitsburg Jr. Livestock show board where he was in charge of the horse show for many years. He received an FFA Honorary Farmer award from the Waitsburg FFA Chapter.

Lee served as ring steward for many years at area horse shows in Walla Walla and Pendleton. The Walla Walla Valley Horsemen Association proclaimed him ringmaster extraordinaire in 1975. In 1983 he was awarded an honorary life membership to the NW Quarter Horse Association for his years of service as ring steward for their horse shows.

He was inducted into the Frontier Days Rodeo Cowboy Legends Hall of Fame in 2013.

Lee was proceeded in death by his parents; a brother Robert Pennell; and sisters Marie (Cecil) Hart, Pauline (John) Hennings, Hazel (Richard) Jacobson. He is survived by his wife, Carole; daughter Vickie (Richard) Piper of Milton-Freewater; daughter, Yvonne Pennell of Westminster, CO; grandchildren, Johnna (Tyler) Backhaus, Seth Piper, Heidi (Joshua) Flores, and Casey Stiller.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 6, 2017 at 11:00AM At the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Memorial contributions to Walla Walla Community Hospice through the Funeral Home. Guest may go online and sign the online guest book at Herringgroseclose.com