Willa Mae Polly (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Willa Mae Matthews Polly, daughter of Charley Edwin Matthews and Emma Darby Matthews, was born June 7, 1926 at Polk, MO and passed away February 4, 2014 at Wichita, KS after moving there on November 11, 2011 to live and be taken care of by her daughter and family. At the time of her passing she was 87 years, 7 months, and 28 days of age.
Willa Mae was the younger of two children born of Charley and Emma Matthews. She grew up in Polk, MO and attended Polk Elementary School and Emma D. High School at Goodson, MO. A bright student, she took two grades at once in elementary school and thus completed school in 11 years instead of 12.
After high school graduation, she enrolled at Southwest Baptist College and taught school the following Fall term. For 4 consecutive years she attended college in the summer months, and taught school in the fall, winter, and spring in a one-room school at Concord and Greenleaf Schools in Polk County.
She was united in marriage to Dean Rexford Polly on April 27, 1947. To this union were born two children, a daughter Deanna Mae, and a son Robert Rex.
After marriage Dean and Willa Mae moved to Christian County, MO and made their home in Clever for 2 ½ years before moving back to Polk County. While there, Willa Mae taught 7th and 8th grades in the Billings Public School.
Her teaching career continued two more years in the one-room school, then public schools for 27 ½ years intermittently with raising a family and attending college, earning her Bachelors Degree from Southwest Baptist College in 1968. College credits were earned as well from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) and the University of Missouri. Her last 24 years of teaching was done in the 5th grade in the Dallas County R-1 School District in Buffalo, MO. She retired in 1992 at the age of 66.
Willa Mae was a former member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Alpha Tau Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma International. At the time of death she was a member of the Dallas County Retired Teachers Association and the Missouri R.T.A.
Willa Mae professed her faith in Christ at age 13 and became a member of Mt. View Baptist Church at Polk, later moving her membership to Halfway Baptist Church in Halfway, MO. With her steadfast faith in God she overcame many difficulties caring for, working with, and teaching others. No task was too great, and her love for her family was beyond all measure.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Coach Eddie Matthews and his wife Bernice, her husband Dean after 58 years of marriage, and her son Robert.
She is survived by her daughter Deanna Mae Polly-Faulkner and her son-in-law Doug Faulkner, of Wichita, KS; four grandchildren: Rebekah Marie Polly of Springfield, MO, Rachel Michelle Polly of St. Louis, MO, Morgan Douglas Faulkner of Wichita, KS and Gabriel Robert Polly of Halfway, MO.; and one great-grandson Kingston Christopher Loss of St Louis, MO.
She is also survived by two daughters-in-law: Donna Polly of Halfway MO and Jody Polly of Springfield, MO., one sister-in-law Patricia (Polly) Southard Taylor of Wilson, N.C., nephews Edsel Matthews (Becky), L.J.Polly(Elaine), Steve Polly, Don Roderick (Sherry), Robert Polly(Tabetha) and Roger Polly; and nieces Buanna Matthews Beach (Dan), Carol Westfall Pyles (Joe), Jeanne Southard Lavelle (Tim), Janice Polly Hawkins, Donna Jean Polly and Judy Southard.
Willa Mae’s life and love touched many, many others over her 87 years, not only her family, friends, and neighbors, but those with whom she worked and taught school and the hundreds, maybe thousands, of students whom she taught.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial contributions can be made to The Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S Market St. Wichita, KS 67202.
What’s your fondest memory of Willa?
What’s a lesson you learned from Willa?
Share a story where Willa's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Willa you’ll never forget.
How did Willa make you smile?
