04/07/2026
Mary Katherine Davis Penn
September 27, 1930 – March 19, 2026
It is with a heavy heart that the family of Mary Katherine Davis Penn, “Kay”, 95, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, announces her passing, March 19, 2026 in Savannah, Georgia. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and “Mema” to many. Kay was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, to Mary Louise (Roads) Davis and Russell E. Davis. She grew up in
Hyattsville, Maryland, and was a loving big sister to Martha, and her “baby brother” Bill.
Kay graduated in 1947 from McKinley High School in Washington D.C. and worked as a Buyer for Woodward & Lothrop in Washington D.C. After attending Secretarial and Accounting School at Strayer University, she was employed as a secretary at Fisher Scientific Inc., in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she met the love of her life, Edgar Revell Penn (Rev). They married in 1952, and became the proud parents of three children, Mary Louise, Russ, and Mike. In 1965 they moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland.
While raising their children, Kay and Rev enjoyed numerous weekend family camping trips as well as summer vacations, traveling to Canada, Myrtle Beach, and back to her hometown of Hillsboro, Ohio. Kay was a secretary for Samuel E. Bogley Real Estate in Gaithersburg, the First National Bank of Maryland in Gaithersburg, and Long and Foster Real Estate in Rockville, Maryland. After Rev’s passing in 1981, Kay remained in her house and lived independently for 43 additional years.
In retirement, Kay enjoyed spending time as an active member of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, where she served numerous leadership roles, including Elder of the church, Clerk of Sessions for over ten years, and member of the Congregational Care Committee, which had primary responsibility for the church’s commercial
kitchen.
She also had a passion for genealogy, and was very involved in the Goshen Mills Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, where she held various roles and enjoyed attending both local meetings, state conferences, and Continental Congress with her daughter, Mary Louise Metzger. She was a member of several lineage and genealogical societies, including DAR, Colonial Dames of the 17 th Century, Southern Dames of America, and the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society.
Kay’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her family, and was known as everyone’s “Mema”. Kay was best known for her reliability, independence, and her unwavering determination to always get the job done. Kay spent her final days in Savannah, Georgia with her daughter, Mary Louise Metzger, son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Vivian Penn, granddaughter Nicole Pope, and precious great-granddaughters. The family wishes tothank Georgia Hospice Care for their kind care and loving support.
Kay was preceded in death by her mother Mary Louise (Roads) Davis, father Russell E. Davis, husband Edgar Revell Penn, sister Martha Ellen Aisquith, and son George Russell Penn. Kay is survived by her brother William Russell Davis (Patty), daughter Mary Louise Metzger (Michael), son, Michael Revell Penn (Vivian), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, as well as many friends who she loved greatly.
A Celebration of Kay’s Life will be held on June 20, 2026, 11:00 AM, at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church,610 S. Frederick Avenue, 20877.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church in her memory.
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