An avid painter and member of the Daytona Beach Branch (Florida), Joan Ida Egan died February 15, 2009, at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer. Ahe was a lifetime member of the Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts in Barberville, Florida.

Aleon DeVore, a letters emeritus member of the Denver Branch (Colorado), died following an extended illness February 15, 2009, at the age of 88. She served as president of the Denver Branch and the Colorado State Association and served on the national board from 1972-78. Her colorful personality was reflected in her column in "The Littleton Independent" newspaper (1966-78)and received awards from Colorado Press Women, National Federation of Press Women, and Writer's Digest. She wrote the book What If...? and edited another titled Autumn Gold with a Touch of Silver.

Artist Lelia Padgett Moran died February 9, 2009, at age 85. A librarian for the National Agricultural Library for 26 years, she co-edited several magazines. Her watercolors hung in shows all over Maryland and Washington, D.C., and she participated in juried shows. She was a member of the Chevy Chase Branch (Maryland) since 1980 and served her Branch as treasurer.

A longtime member of the Greenwich Branch (Connecticut), Fran Brooks died January 30, 2009, at the age of 90. She was an astute business woman and an active volunteer, but her passion lay in combining her love of gardening and her talent in painting floral watercolors. Her long career as club director for the Red Cross included plans for entertaining the troops during World War II, both in Europe and Japan.

An art member of the Chesapeake Bay Branch (Virginia), Jane Stouffer Williams died January 14, 2009, at the age of 80. A teacher of studio art, printmaking, drawing, and painting for forty years, she designed the cross for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Kilmarnock, and logos and seals for many businesses. Her husband not only designed and constructed a second-floor studio and an etching press for her, but also built many of the unusual-shaped canvases and frames for her paintings.

Former national board member Joanne Trahan of the Las Vegas Branch (Nevada) died in early 2009. A letters member, she prepared the two leather-bound volumes on sculptress Vinnie Ream who created the life-size sculpture of Abraham Lincoln standing in the D.C. Capitol rotunda.

Julia Ann Dagenais, writer, poet and teacher, worked as a social worker for nine years. She presented a program on her relative, Rev. Lydia Sexton, Kansas’ first state prison chaplain. Dressed in period costume of the 19th century Julia recited a narrative on the life of this women’s rights pioneer. Long time member of the Wichita, KS, branch, Julia, 81, died March 31, 2007.

A third generation college graduate and teacher in her family, Jean Boyce-Smith was a letters member of Napa Valley branch and died Sept. 25, 2009, at age 84. After teaching English at Habibia University in Kabul, Jean became New York editor for TV Dial Magazine and later associate editor for TV Guide’s NY edition. She taught high school English in Maine and in California until her retirement in 1985. She sailed, camped, hiked and traveled extensively with her second husband in Europe, South America, India, Asia and the Middle East. She co-piloted their small plane all over the west. An author of many short stories, she was revising a book on Afghanistan, which her daughter, Ann, is completing.

Second generation Pen Woman Janet S. Bishop was a life member of the Western New York branch. A letters member, she was a journalist for several local newspapers. Her mother, Marion Elmer, was a letters member of the same branch and died two years ago. Janet served in nearly every office in her branch, and was president twice. She also was New York State President. Janet died October 4, 2009, at the age of 52.

Eileen Ocon studied watercolor, Japanese Sumi, drawing, pastel, art photography and participated in various courses in digital photography and computer graphics. A teacher of photography and calligraphy at Longboat Key Art Center, she photographed many Pen Women functions and worked on the branch directory. An arts member of Sarasota, FL, branch, Eileen died at the age of 76 on August 27, 2009.

Long time former member in both arts and letters, Patricia B. Lowe died June 2, 2009, at the age of 91. She was a member of San Jose, Sonoma and NorCal, CA, branches and served as secretary of the latter. Although focused on her art and writing, more recently she had developed an interest in computer animation and the digital world.

Award winning artist Leni Friedland enjoyed watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, painting realistic and abstract works. As a teacher, she emphasized “composition, color and creativity,” the three C’s, in her work and in her local adult education classes. At her death on August 13, 2009, she was president of the Suffolk County, NY, branch. She was 66 years old.

Author Mary Castro Richards, past president of the Honolulu, HI, branch, brought music to open each luncheon meeting establishing an on-going tradition. She lectured aboard the Royal Viking cruise ships, sharing stories about the people and traditions of Hawaii. Author of a biography of former Hawaii governor William F. Quinn, she wrote a profile of a multigenerational musical family. She died December 15, 2008, at age 87.

Past president and letters member of the Tucson, AZ, branch, “Great Margaret” (dubbed that by her grandchildren) died March 22, 2009, at the age of 93. A constant source of energy, even in a wheelchair, she played basketball in the 1930’s at the University of Arizona (before women athletes were recognized) where she studied political science and journalism. She later worked for the Tucson Public Library for 21 years and wrote stories about her life growing up a Cochise Indian. In 1983 she served on the Caldecott Committee.

Painter, printmaker and art teacher for more than 40 years, Sally McKee Romayne died May 19, 2009, at age 94. Sally was an innovator and passionately dedicated to arts and education. A member of the Charleston, WV, branch, her abstract expressionist works, inspired by nature, were known for her vivid use of color.

Ella Szabo was a college physical education professor, a synchronized swimming Olympian in 1960 in Rome and later coached the sport, and a writer with the Greenwich, CT, branch. She was working on a Hungarian cooking book at the time of her death at 79 on April 23, 2009. She also wrote numerous newspaper articles.

Born in Austria, Charlotte Shedd created a radio commentary program on a Wilmington, DE, station that ran for 40 years. A letters member of the Diamond State, DE, branch. She died July 16, 2009, at the age of 96. She co-founded the Austrian American Society that held a formal Spring Viennese Ball, as well as funded scholarships for students to study music in Salzburg. Charlotte wrote a memoir called Thank You, America.

Teacher of the year and art department head for the Alfred DuPont-Brandywine school district in Wilmington, DE, Ellen Simon Viden 90, died June 9, 2009. She was an art member of the Diamond, DE, branch and taught art for 28 years. With a passion for art, she worked in oils, watercolors, and clay, in addition to being a weaver. She received an award from Art Educators of Delaware of 1986.

A long-time member of the Greenwich, CT Branch, Fran Brooks died Jan. 30, 2009, at the age of 90. She was an astute businesswoman and an active volunteer, but her passion lay in combining her love of gardening and her talent in painting floral watercolors. Her long career as club director for the Red Cross included plans for entertaining the troops during World War II both in Europe and Japan.

Ethel Wirtshafter, noted batik expert and wood carver, taught art, drama and yoga and was a photographer during her 99 years of life. A member of the Chicago, IL, branch, she was honored for her lifetime commitment to art and to teaching children for 40 years. Her batiks, unlike the Indonesians which repeat geometrical shapes, used the images of people and later echoed the oriental tones she loved. She wrote a book about the rustic island of Vashon, off the coast of Seattle, which she wrote by candlelight since the island had no electricity. She died February 2, 2009.

Letters member of the Scottsdale, AZ Branch, Phyllis I. Dalton died at the age of 98 in June 2008. She previously was a member of the Las Vegas Branch. A poet who loved reading and writing, she helped develop the library at Pueblo Notre Retirement Community in Scottsdale and planned many special programs including a writers’ group.

Author, lecturer and consultant, Dr. Arlene A. Christiano had a passion for helping people learn to live healthy and productive lives as seen in her book, Radiation and Chemotherapy for Cancer: Mind, Body Therapy for Healing. In A Bridge Across Time she addressed how to write memoirs. Another book gave advice on how to age gracefully. After over 50 years of teaching, she wrote, “healing body is not enough; your soul needs to be healed too.” She died July 25, 2008, at the age of 70, a letters member of the Palomar, CA Branch.

Avid painter and member of the Daytona Beach, FL Branch, Joan Ida Egan died Feb. 15, 2009, at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer. She was a lifetime member of The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts in Barberville, FL.

Aleon DeVore, letters Emeritus member of the Denver, CO Branch, died Feb. 15, 2009, at the age of 88. She served as president of the Denver Branch, and Colorado state president. On the national board she served as third vice president as well as chair of the membership and letters committees during the years 1972-78. Her colorful personality was reflected in her column in The Littleton Independent newspaper (1966-78). She received awards from Colorado Press Women, National Federation of Press Women and Writer’s Digest. She wrote the book, What If...?, and edited Autumn Gold with a Touch of Silver.

The first paid executive director of the Alachua County March of Dimes, Helen Chard Ellis held various positions at the University of Florida in the Department of Agriculture and Education. She was 94 when she died on June 1, 2009. A letters member of the Gainesville, FL Branch, she authored articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. She served as branch and state president and newsletter editor and writer. An avid bridge player she traveled widely and enjoyed her association with the physicians at Shands in the genetic counseling and birth defects centers.

Artist Lelia Padgett Moran of the Chevy Chase, MD Branch died Feb. 9, 2009, at age 85. A librarian for the National Agricultural Library for 26 years, she co-edited several magazines. Her watercolors hung in shows all over Maryland and Washington, DC, in juried shows. She was a member since 1980 and served her branch as treasurer.

Jean MacNeill, one of the founding members of the Chester Co, PA Branch, died March 8, 2009, at the age of 91. She served as president and treasurer of her branch and was a professional painter all her life. She collaborated with her husband, Stephen, in his printing business, and both were well known for their pen and ink drawings of historical places. She died two days after her husband.

Letters member of the Chicago Branch, Kitty Keating LaBoiteaux was a poet and writer. A 46-year employee of the Chicago Board of Education, she taught homebound students and traveled to hospitals to teach bedridden pupils. She was likely the first Chicago teacher certified to teach all students with disabilities. She served as secretary of the branch and died at age 75 on May 23, 2009.

On Nov. 7, 2008, Eudora Seyfer died at the age of 83. She was a letters member of the Cedar Rapids, IA Branch. Co-author of two books, Gentle Yoga and How to be Happily Retired, she was a freelance writer for many national magazines in home, travel, children’s and teen subjects. Recently she was an essayist for the Christian Science Monitor, describing her passion for libraries.

Sara Louise Watson Palmer, vice president of the Gainesville, FL Branch, died Dec. 21, 2008. The 79- year-old letters member was a teacher and author of children’s books. She also served as secretary and chaplain of her branch.

Grace Soffer was an educator who loved painting with her husband Rubin. She served as exhibition chair of the Long Island, NY Branch and won many awards for her watercolors. She died in late November of 2008 at the age of 86.

Former national board member Joanne Trahan of the Las Vegas, NV Branch died in early 2009. A letters member, she prepared the two leather-bound volumes on sculptress Vinnie Ream who created the life-size sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in the D.C. Capitol Rotunda.

Patricia Whitworth Smith, letters, Chicksaw, TN Branch treasurer, died July 2, 2008.

Lifelong artist Jane Stouffer Williams, 80, of the Chesapeake Bay, VA Branch, died Jan. 14, 2009, at the age of 80. A teacher of studio art, printmaking, drawing, and painting for forty years, she designed the cross for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kilmarnock, VA, and logos and seals for numerous groups. Her husband not only designed and constructed a second-floor studio and an etching press for her, but also built many of the unusual-shaped canvases and frames for her paintings.

Ula Lerline Westmoreland, letters, Chicksaw, TN Branch, died Aug. 31, 2008.

After retiring in 1999 from working with her husband, Freda Ward wrote nine books on her gift of seeing humor in every day life. She spoke to some 50 groups a year and won a number of awards from the Florida Writers Association including two in the 1997 letters competition. She died at age 77 on March 26, 2009.