Pauline ‘Polly’ Pearl Peck McPherren

Clear Lake — Pauline “Polly” Pearl Peck McPherren, 89, passed from this life on Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

A celebration of her life with a gathering of friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake.  A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, July 18 at First Congregational U.C.C. Church, Newton. A private graveside service will be in Newton Union Cemetery in Newton. Memorials may be given to the First Congregational U.C.C. Church, 308 E. Second St. N., Newton, IA 50208 or the P.E.O. Scholarship Fund in care of Denni Erickson, 101 Fifth Ave. N., Clear Lake, IA 50428.

Polly was born on Oct. 13, 1924, in Iowa City. Her loving parents were Clyde A. and Vera Violet (Porter) Peck of Newton. Polly attended Newton Community Schools, Class of 1942. She also attended Monticello College in Alton, Ill. In her high school yearbook it reads: Polly Peck, “Always has pep, Always a Grin, Either Coming, or Already Been.” Those who knew Polly agree that didn’t change in 89 years. She was married to Marvin L. “Mark” McPherren on March 31, 1946, in Atchison, Kan., and raised six children in Newton. Polly was a member of P.E.O. Chapter LE (67 year active member) was a 50 year member of the Congregational UCC in Newton before moving and becoming a member of the Congregational Church in Clear Lake.

She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, (Nancy) and John Paschal of Grapevine, Texas, Sue McPherren of Newton and (Jodi) and Mark Cruse of Madisonville, La.; two sons, Randy McPherren of Clear Lake and Patrick McPherren of Des Moines; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.  She is also survived by a dear niece, Mary Janet Ergenbright.

She was proceeded in death by her husband M.L. McPherren; their infant daughter, Josette Kay McPherren; their son, Daniel Mark McPherren; her parents, Clyde A. and Vera V. Peck; and her brother Paul E. Peck. .

Polly’s giving spirit and zest for life has touched us all and will live on through all who loved her.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, IA 50428 (641) 357-2193 ColonialChapels.com.