Allie Pauline Lea Keith, age 92, born in Lebanon, TN on May 12, 1928 to Elizabeth and Jesse Lea, passed away on June 4, 2020. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Edward Cordell Keith, her siblings Ola Mai Lea Hackney, Ella Lea Knowles (Claude), Riley “Red” Lea (Edith), William “Penny” Lea (Virginia), Melvin Lea (Sue) and Agnes Lea, and brother-in-law George Baines.
Polly is survived by her children Ken Keith (Jean) and Kathy Keith Hadfield (Scott); grandchildren Jonathan Heard (Coe), Becky Keith Davis (Taylor), Daniel Keith, Brian Hadfield (Chelsey), and Sarah Hadfield (Erin); great-grandchildren Wyatt Heard, Cooper Davis, Hunter Davis, Tanner Davis, Hallie Hadfield, Georgia Hadfield, Mariah Hadfield-Stanton, Sage Hadfield-Stanton and Gavin Hadfield-Stanton; and siblings Raymond Lea (Robbie) and Mary Lea Baines.
Known as “Grandmother” or “Aunt Pauline” by the many generations who adored her, Polly loved her family above all else. Our mother instilled in us a sense of adventure, a strong work ethic, and how to respect and care for others. Polly demonstrated her love by cooking, making quilts, and serving others. She exuded such kindness and people were drawn to her because of it. If she set her mind to something, she would always just roll up her sleeves, grab a shovel, and get it done. Just ask any snake in her garden. She loved to catch fish with Ed and fry them up afterwards (only if she didn’t have to clean them), take road trips with her family, garden, feed the birds, hear a good joke, and share stories from the past. Always generous; she was well known for the “Polly Pour.” Her biscuits, cornbread, salmon/biscuit/gravy, apple dumplins, banana pudding, green beans, roast beef and mashed potatoes, lasagna, strawberry cake, and coconut cake were legendary. She never met a stranger and always set another place at the table for those who came hungry. Along with her kind nature, she also had a strong business mind and started and ran a successful business with Ed. She was an active member in the Presbyterian Church and a recipient of the Citizenship Award from the DAR. Though we will miss her every day, her loving spirit will be with us always.
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