MILLICENT POOLE

Millicent E. Poole Age 103, celebrated Thanksgiving with family and on the same day held her newborn fourth great-granddaughter Brooke. The next Sunday, she had a serious heart attack, then a devastating attack a few days later. She passed away peacefully December 10th, 2011, surrounded by family, at home in Shelton. Millicent was born in her mother's bed in the tiny, arid prairie town of Hitchcock, South Dakota on June 24th, 1908, in the area where she lived until 1937. She was married to Kenneth Poole on May 4, 1935. She is survived by the family she proudly nurtured her whole life, her three sons, their wives and children - James (Miriam), Heather (Larry), James, and Matthew; Timothy (Carole), Kevin (Hilary) and Robert (Nicole); and Daniel (Kathy), David (Adrienne) and Courtney (Matt); and eight great-grandchildren - Devyn House, Ashley Hardin, Andrew, Morgan, Christina, Blake Hardin, Aubrey, and Brooke. She also leaves behind nieces Sue Schroeder of St. Paul, Minnesota and Judy Olson-Duhamel of Rapid City, South Dakota, and nephews Jay, Terry, Dan, Kimrod, and Mike Murphy. Millie was the third of eight children born to James and Lufa Murphy. She outlived all of her siblings, Robert, Beulah, Camille, Lufa, Richard, Mary, and Gene. She also had a long romance and brief marriage with special friend and favorite dance partner Alf Hagen. Upon her father's death in 1922, her mother Lufa did her best to raise their children well while giving them much responsibility and joy. She and her children were tested again and again by the wars, drought, and pestilence of the 20th century: the Influenza Pandemic, the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl. Many of the family fled the Dust Bowl in the 1930's, with Millie and Ken settling with infant son James in 1937 in Auburn, Washington, where they began a new life. Although their first Christmas dinner here was only mashed potatoes and cranberries, and they felt years of great hardship, young Millie and Ken also felt the joys of raising a family in their own home. As had her own mother, Millie passed as much responsibility on to her sons as they could handle. After 33 years of marriage, Ken died in Tacoma on January 2nd, 1968. Millie persevered, helping her children build their own families, sharing not only holidays, but also daily life whenever possible. She loved Christmas, birthdays, and weekends - any reason for her family to celebrate together. Millie stayed sharp and had many passions over her long life. She taught 36 children in a one-room schoolhouse where she had to arrive early to build a fire in the woodstove, and danced to Lawrence Welk in South Dakota. In Tacoma, she lived on the city's outskirts and had a productive garden and fruit trees that helped to feed her family during hard times. They were lifelong members of First Congregational Church. Millie taught in Tacoma for seven more years. Later, she traveled in the U.S., in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Along with her family, Millie treasured dancing, her walking friends, water aerobics at the YMCA, bridge at the Point Defiance Senior Center, golf at Meadow Park, her home on Treasure Island in Grapeview, where she especially loved to gather her extended family. Two generations cherish the oil paintings she created for each person. Wherever she lived she made friends with her generous spirit and was recognized as the first centenarian member of the Tacoma YMCA. In her last few days, she said, "I've been so lucky!" Memorial donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Oklahoma City or Hospice of Mason County. Her remains will be inurned at Haven of Rest, Gig Harbor, Washington. A memorial celebration of her life to be announced will be held sometime in May, 2012. Remembrances may be sent care of Dan Poole, POB 7835, Tacoma, WA 98417.