Penny S. Adkins

Penny Adkins
May 22, 1938 – April 27, 2025

Penny Adkins, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away due to medical complications on April 27, 2025, in Cedar City, Utah, at the age of 86. Born on May 22, 1938, in Kodiak, Alaska, Penny was proud of her Alutiiq and Tlingit heritage, which remained an important part of her identity throughout her life.

Penny left Alaska as a young woman and made her way to Southern California, where fate led her to meet the love of her life, Tommy Adkins, at the Saugus Cafe in Newhall, CA. They married on December 13, 1958, and built a beautiful life together, sharing 66 years of love, laughter, and family.

Together, Penny and Tommy raised three daughters: Carol Henson (Ken), Kathy Ennis (Bob), and Denise Adkins. They also lovingly raised their granddaughter, Amber Rosales (Jose), who was like a daughter to them. Penny was a proud great-grandmother to Ryan, Tommy, James, and Cole Rosales, who adored her.

Penny worked in administration for the State of California for many years, where her intelligence, work ethic, and quick wit made her respected and loved by colleagues and friends alike. She was smart, had a wonderful sense of humor, could be a little spicy when needed, and had a fierce love for her family that never wavered.

In May 2005, Penny and Tommy moved to Cedar City, Utah, where they spent their later years surrounded by family and the peaceful beauty of Southern Utah.

Penny was preceded in death by her parents, Benny Gregoroff (stepmother Celia) and Mary Smith (stepfather Norman Smith), her brother Tommy Gregoroff and his wife Kathy and nieces Melissa and Genai, her sister Joanne Smith, sister-in-law Shirley Warner, and brother-in-law George Tolbert.

Our hearts are broken by her passing. We will forever miss her laughter, her love, her strength, and the light she brought into our lives.

A private family service will be held to honor Penny’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you take a moment to hug your loved ones and cherish the memories you make together, just as Penny would have wanted.