Priscilla "Polly" Coder Soules

Our mom passed away peacefully on January 3, 2013. She was born in Seattle on May 9, 1921 to Dorothy G. and Lloyd X. Coder. She attended Garfield High School and the University of Washington, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She joined Seattle Milk Fund with friends from college when she was an at-home mom, and was a member her whole life. Through the years, Polly did volunteer work for the homeless and mentally ill, at Harborview Hospital and other charities. After being at home with her 4 children for about 15 years, she started working at System Transfer & Storage Company, the family trucking company her father founded in 1919. She worked there until she retired in 1986. She was president of the company for some years, and Chairman of the Board at her death. She was also involved in Soules Properties, serving as Secretary and Director of the company that was started by her father-in-law in 1940.

She was married to Paul “Si” Soules from 1944 until his passing in 1979. Many years later she married Chuck Klein, enjoying 6 years of marriage until his passing in 2003. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Ellis and Bud, son Steven G. Soules, granddaughter Laura Nicole Soules Lund, nephew David Coder, niece Jamela Soules and many of her friends.

Polly was a very dedicated Husky football fan and always said her blood was purple and gold. Her granddaughters Natalie and Caroline are the 17th and 18th members of her extended family to go to the UW. She was a 2nd generation football season ticket holder. She also enjoyed traveling to many away games through the years, including three Rose Bowls. When it became too difficult to get to the games, she began enjoying them on her big screen tv with family and friends joining her. It was always a party, with well buttered popcorn by the bucket! The UW crew also had a special place in her heart. Her brother Ellis rowed, and through him she met her husband Si. Her son Scott and daughter Sandra also rowed at the UW and her grandson Paul now rows at WSU.

Travelling was something Polly enjoyed very much before and after retirement, and was fortunate to travel around the world in 1963. She loved Hawaii, starting with her first trip in 1948. Kauai became her favorite island where she had a condo for 20 years. After that, Palm Springs became her sun destination for several more years. She shared her places very generously with family and friends. There are many of us who have cherished memories from stays both places. She also travelled some 20 times to Norway to visit her daughter and family, and had many friends there.

Polly is survived by her children Scott (Lorna), Stuart (Gabriele) and Sandra (Andreas), grandchildren Natalie, Caroline, Paul and Trygve, sisters-in-law Marlene Soules and Vivian Coder and many nieces and nephews.

Polly was a loving and devoted wife, mom, grandmother and aunt. She was the matriarch of the family and supportive of all of us in many ways. As her parents were both only children, she had no aunts, uncles or cousins, so family was more important to her than anything else. She also loved her many friends of all ages. She was energetic, spontaneous and fun loving! Memories of her will always be with us, in our hearts and souls. She meant so much to so many.

Although gone from this world, we’re sure mom is driving that Great Highway in the Sky in her gold convertible with the top down, a can of Coke (not Pepsi!) by her side, a Camel straight in her hand and a heavy foot on the gas, loving every minute of it!

We would like to thank the staff at the Ida Culver Broadview Health Care Center for their gracious care of our mom the last weeks of her life, and for making us so welcome to be there as much as we wanted to.

There will be a celebration of Polly’s life for family and friends in May.

Memorials may be made to Seattle Milk Fund, www.seattlemilkfund.org , or your favorite charity.