Mary P. Parrett

Mary “Polly” Preston Parrett died Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, after a short illness. She had just turned 83. Polly was born in St. Joseph Aug. 3, 1924, and lived her whole life in the area, apart from time at Lake Erie College and at Colorado College, where she graduated, and nearly a decade in New York City on the administrative side of an advertising agency. Polly was descended from the earliest settlers of the area, including Wilkinsons and Kings, many of whom put down roots as farmers and lumbermen. She grew up in Old St. Joseph, then moved across the St. Joseph River to South Ridgeway. Her parents, John and Phyllis, had four children: Ann, Tom, Polly and Jim. In 1950, Polly married a childhood friend and neighbor, John Thomas Parrett, with whom she had kept in touch when they were at different colleges and during World War II, when he was a junior naval officer in the Pacific. They married in St. Joseph, after having courted in New York City, where John was an engineer. They returned to this area in 1953, and lived in Fairplain, St. Joseph Township, until moving to St. Joseph in 1967. Polly was a 46-year member of the Indian Hills Garden Club, (of which her mother, Phyllis Wilkinson Preston, was a founder); she was a pillar of The Other Book Club; for decades Polly was a swimming instructor at the St. Joseph YWCA; she often volunteered at the Krasl Art Center; and at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library. Polly was a fierce advocate for the environment, a dedicated organic gardener, and one of the best private composters in Michigan. Polly is survived by her husband, John; son, Tom (Carol) of New York City; son, James of Novato, Calif.; daughter, Elizabeth (Brent) Glendening of St. Joseph; and grandson, Christopher Glendening. Polly requested there be no service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to local charity of your choice in “Polly” name. Her family and many friends will miss her dearly.