Obituaries

Patricia Ruth Polley

Obituary

On November 24, 2024 Patricia Ruth Polley passed away in her Kirkland Washington home at the age of 80.  Well known as Pat by her friends, to her family she was Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.  To some she was known as Patti P, G-Squared P-Squared, and to others as P-Squared.  She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Pat was born and raised in Lebanon Pennsylvania on August 14,1944 with her parents Ralph and Ellen Shay as their only child.  In her early 20’s she would meet William (Bill) Polley while working as a Magician’s Assistant in a Night Club and later marry him on May 31, 1966 in St. Louis.  Pat and Bill would spend next several years traveling the country with the Circus and Carnival.  In 1974 they purchased a house in the Rosehill area near Kirkland Washington.  This is where Pat would raise their 5 children.

During her life Pat had many careers, in her younger life she was a Go-Go dancer, Carnival Game Attendant, and ran several businesses she owned with Bill.  After their divorce in 1980 Pat would work go on to work in IT, IT/Data Security, and Medical Equipment Manufacturing for Applied Microsystems, Data I/O Corporation, and Space Labs Corporation as a Sales Supervisor and Service Supervisor.  In 1994 she left the Corporate world and became the General Manager of the Renton Civic Theater, and finally retired in 2014 while working for the Hanna Anderson Corporation.

Pat always loved to fish her entire life.  Whether it was on a solo camping trip in the mountains or one with family, or hauling a kid or two or more down to one of the many docks in Kirkland along Lake Washington in the early morning hours with her coffee always stopping by a 7-Eleven to buy some snacks.  In 1993 she began painting and became an accomplished local artist, earning awards at the Puyallup Fair and being a featured artist in a local gallery.  She turned one bedroom into her Art Studio and another into her Art Gallery.  She also enjoyed to make custom earrings and necklaces.  At the time of her passing every room in her home was adorned with multiple pieces of her artwork turning the entire home into her Gallery.  Pat was proud to be a recovering alcoholic with 43 years of sobriety.

Pat was proceeded in death by her brother (at birth), mother Ellen, father Ralph, and youngest son Andrew.  She is survived by her 5 children, daughter Sheri, son Michael, daughter Marianne, son Allen, and son John, 15 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and her dogs Willie and Wookie.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Chapel of the Resurrection at 3pm, 16300 112th Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011.  There will be a viewing for family and friends starting at 2pm before the service on Saturday.  Pat will be entombed at the conclusion of the services in the on premise crypt next to her son Andrew.  There will be a gathering of friends and family to celebrate Pat’s life and share more of our stories following the services at a location to still be determined.