Shelley Brooke Pennington

Shelley Brooke Pennington, age 46 years, formerly of Morehead, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2026, at her home in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the presence of loved ones, including her partner, John Tullar, and her lifelong friend, Jill Hamlin.

Brooke was born August 14, 1980, the beloved daughter of Harvey and Linda Pennington.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Linda Carole Russell Pennington, who passed on June 24, 2021.

Always a good student, Brooke graduated as Valedictorian of her 1998 graduating class at Rowan County High School and was selected as a Governor’s Scholar. For a couple of summers, Brooke worked with the child support program in the Rowan County Attorney’s office.

After graduating from high school, Brooke attended the University of Kentucky, graduating from that institution in 2002.

Brooke moved to San Francisco, California, after her graduation from UK, where she was employed as a receptionist for a large law firm. She moved to Los Angeles after a couple of years. During this time, Brooke was selected as a contestant for the television show “Jeopardy.” This tickled her and she always said that her buzzer was too slow.

Before settling in the State of Massachusetts, she moved to—and worked in—Pocatello, Idaho; Lexington, Kentucky; and back in Morehead, Kentucky (where she worked one summer with her mother teaching GED students).

Brooke loved to travel and was a very independent and adventurous person. She traveled through the United States and the world, making many lifelong friends along the way, whom she stayed in contact with up until her passing. She acquired the desire to travel and explore from the time she was a small child while traveling with her parents. She loved the great outdoors, camping, hiking and riding horseback. She was a crack shot, much to her parents’ pleasure, and would sometimes beat her father at target practice. However, she held a belief of not harming living things.

She enjoyed traveling with her mother to New York City to experience theater and to go shopping. She developed a great appreciation for theater, old films, art and fine dining. She enjoyed sharing her experiences with friends.

Brooke had one last message to her friends and family, which she wrote on August 21, 2026: “Please know that any time we spent together was lived to the fullest. I never lost sight of how special and unique any shared moment between people is during our fleeting time on this planet. This is such an amazing place and time to be alive and I’m so glad to have shared any of it with you.”

In lieu of flowers, Brooke desired that donations be made to: Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc., 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104; Planned Parenthood Federeation of America, Inc., 123 William Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10038; Humane society for the protections of Dogs and Cats of your choosing.

A Memorial Service Celebrating Brooke’s life will be announced at a later date.

Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351 is caring for arrangements for Shelley Brooke Pennington.

Sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com