I. Pauline "Polly" Nelson Brown

Polly Brown was born July 24, 1913 in Hayward, CA to Swedish immigrants Alex and Caroline Nelson. Shortly after her birth the family moved to a small farm in Jennings Lodge, OR where Polly attended grade school and high school at Oregon City.

After high school, Polly attended Oregon State University (then Oregon Agricultural School) for one year where she earned a varsity letter for tennis and forever remained a Beaver fan. Polly wanted to be a teacher and for her second year she transferred to Western Oregon University (then Oregon College of Education). After two years at OCE, she obtained a “lifetime teaching certificate.”

While at OCE, Polly met the love of her life, Frank E. Brown who shared the same life goals of teaching children.

Postponing marriage until Frank was through college, Polly’s teaching career started at Holcomb Grade School near Oregon City. Holcomb was a one-room school house where her first class had 31 students spanning all eight grades.

Polly and Frank were married on June 14, 1939 at which time Polly left teaching to become a homemaker and a mother. When her youngest child started fourth grade, she went back to teaching at Creston Grade School in Portland and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Western Oregon University.

Frank died March 8, 1981 not long after he retired. After his passing she devoted her life to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She never stopped being a teacher. One of her favorite sayings was “you should learn something new every day.” To that end she enjoyed playing the piano, painting, traveling, and corresponding with her Swedish cousins. Polly was also a memer of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church.

Polly had unlimited energy and enthusiasm and will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her son Rollyn Brown, and is survived by sons Franklyn Brown, Tigard, and Allyn Brown, Newberg; grandchildren Anders Brown, Seattle, WA; Stephanie Pickering, Parkdale, OR; Erin Ertz, Beaverton; and Courtney Brown, Portland; step-grandchildren Ian Bald, and Jennifer Digby; great-grandchildren Aiden Brown, Cecilia Brown, Wade Pickering, Anna Pickering, Emerson Ertz, Austin Ertz, Ava Fogarty, and Allyn Fogarty.

Services for Polly Brown will be held on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 11:00am in Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland followed by an interment at Lincoln Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Providence Hospice.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.