Joyce Dunnington-Jennings died on July 28, 2009, of congestive heart failure and other complications. She had had Alzheimer’s for many years.

Mrs. Jennings was born on July 14, 1928, in a farm house to Fred and Irene Johnson in Afton, Iowa. She grew up in Iowa City and attended the University of Iowa. She married her high school sweetheart, Jon Dunnington, in 1947. The two of them lived in Chicago, Cincinnati and Kansas City while Jon attended various colleges. In 1961, they moved to Mercer Island with their children, Cathy, David and Todd. Mrs. Jennings was widowed in 1986; and in 1989, she married Mark Jennings, with whom she shared many wonderful worldwide travel adventures, including a honeymoon in Spain.

Mrs. Jennings was an active member of the East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, where she sang in the choir for more than 30 years. She was a president for the PTA and a longtime volunteer for hospice and the Mercer Island Thrift Shop. She was devoted to her children, who fondly remember joyful family gatherings.

Mrs. Jennings is survived by her husband, Mark; brother, Wendell Johnson, of Nevada; daughter, Cathy; son, David (Janet); and children, Nathan and Spencer; son, Todd (Julie) and children Rachel, Sam, Zoe and Alyssa; and stepchildren, Brian Jennings (three children), Paul Jennings (two children) and Ingrid Durenberger (three children). She was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Ellis.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, at the East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 12700 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue, 98005.