Pauline “Polly” Crook was born on Jan. 2, 1932, at 1 Fish Point in Pemaquid Beach. She passed away in the early morning hours of Dec. 20 in that same house, 81 years later, once all of her four children were there.
Polly was loved by her husband, Bob, for 64 years. They were wonderful, fun-loving parents of Paula Hall, Bobby Crook, Tim Crook and Kim McLain; and welcomed their daughter-in-law, Kathy Crook, and sons-in-law, John Hall and Billy McLain as part of the family. They were grandparents to Catie Crook Gall and husband Rob; Ben, Bo and Brett McLain, and Tim and Jack Crook.
Polly was fortunate that all of the family got together as much as possible, and everyone always had a happy time. Her daughter-in-law and son-in-law kept her laughing as well, and she couldn’t have requested nicer, more thoughtful ones.
Polly’s second love was golf. She was a regular player at the North Palm Country Club and Wawenock in the summer. Most of her life she was a mother, but she did enjoy working in the pro shop at Wawenock, and another pro shop in West Palm Beach. She was never happier than when she was walking along, watching her favorite golfers at a PGA tournament, or watching a televised golf match with Bob. She always wanted to go to the Masters, and fortunately that dream came true several years ago when she was given tickets and attended with Bob, Tim and Kathy Crook.
Polly grew up in Pemaquid Beach, married Bob, who was the captain of the Ireland family’s sailboat, Pandora. They lived in New Harbor, Pemaquid Falls, and finally Pemaquid Beach in Maine during the summers, and spent the winters in Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, and lastly North Palm Beach, Fla., during the school years of her children. Bob brought the Pandora south every winter for the Ireland family to enjoy in warm weather. They moved into their house on Marlin Road in North Palm Beach and spent winters there for the next 54 years, until they sold it and moved back to Pemaquid Beach permanently to be near their children and return to her home.
One of the things she missed about not being in Florida was the availability of shops … another of her passions was shopping. She would often return home with nothing to show for it, but she enjoyed the process. As much as she loved buying a new outfit, nothing compared to the joy of finding the perfect pair of “cute” shoes that went with an outfit. One day this past summer, Bob pulled them all out of the closet and the count was 53 pairs … she wore them all.
Polly never wanted to miss a good time, a cocktail party, or an invitation out to dinner. She was always laughing.
She was predeceased by her brother, Caleb; first grandson, Bert Crook; and nephews, Frank “Frankie,” and Caleb Jr. “Junie.”
A memorial service for Polly will be held at 1 p.m., Mon., Dec. 30 at the Brown Church in Round Pond, officiated by Rev. Bobby Ives, a former neighbor and friend. A reception will follow at a favorite spot of Polly’s, the 1812 Farm in Bristol Mills.
In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial gift to Miles and St. Andrew’s Home Health & Hospice, c/o Development Office, 35 Miles St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. They were wonderful to Polly and her family.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the directions and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
