Penny Sue Sinclair, age 79, passed away on November 5, 2026, in Charlotte, Michigan.
Penny, Mom, Grammie, Penz, MoneyPenny, Director Sinclair; she had many names and many titles. Many people knew her, admired and respected her, and most of all, many who loved her.
Penny was a small-town country girl born in Gary, Indiana on October 15, 1947, to Harry Oscar and Shirley May Conner. Her family moved to Chino, CA when she was only 18 months old. From Chino, her family moved to the Monterey Peninsula, where she would fall in love with the ocean, the rolling golden hills, and live music. She met and married her high school sweetheart, Gary, graduating from Pacific Grove High School in 1965. Her husband, Gary Robert Parsons, Sr., enlisted in the U.S Marine Corps, so they headed east for boot camp. They lived in North and South Carolina for seven years, and then returned to Salinas, CA to raise their children, Gary Robert Parsons, Jr., and Hope Parsons (McElhone) Bartlett. Penny remained in California until she retired from the Department of Defense.
Penny worked for the Department of Defense for over 30 years, retiring at the highest civilian level in 2005, as the Director of Contracting at the Defense Language Institute. During her service, she saved the American taxpayer millions and earned a Congressional Award recognizing her 31 years of service.
After retiring, she moved to Mason, Michigan to be with her daughter and grandchildren. She was always only a “phone call away.” Penny was the best-dressed Grammie at every soccer game (rain or shine), football game, baseball game, play, band recital, prom pictures, and graduations. She didn’t miss an event! She treasured her role as Grammie “Grams” and loved every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren and their friends. Her family was her greatest joy, and she will be remembered for the love and devotion she shared with them.
Penny was an avid reader and lifelong learner; she loved live music, dancing, discussing politics, religion, football (Go Pack Go!), hiking in Big Sur and along Asilomar Beach.
She was a pilgrim, a hippie, a Deadhead, a prankster, a feminist, a teacher, a student, a classy, sassy, inquisitive, smart, loving, and kind woman.
Penny is survived by her daughter, Hope (Tom) Bartlett of Mason; her grandchildren, Conor Parsons McElhone, Jacqueline (Brian) Ochiagha, Grace (Cole) Baker-McElhone, Katherine McElhone, bonus granddaughters, Emily (Kevin) Powless, and Erica (Aaron) Rustem; her great-grandchildren, John Finnegan, Quincy, Beaumont, Cooper, and Carson, with her first great-granddaughter expected soon; and her close cousin, Paul Salmon, along with his children, Kelly (Salmon) Estes and Jeff Salmon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mason Public Schools Foundation or the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
The family will host a visitation at their home on Sunday, December 6th, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. Please contact the family for further details.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
