Pauline "Polly" Locke Menhennett

Pauline “Polly” Locke Menhennett, age 76, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. She was born on March 4, 1944 in Crestview, Florida to Roy and Mary Catherine Locke. Polly was known for having the biggest heart for everyone: family, friends, co-workers or the students at the schools she worked at could all attest.  Her gift was to talk to everyone, known or a total stranger, she loved people!  While attending Crestview High School, she worked at the Western Auto under the DCT Program at CHS.  After graduation, she went to work with the Southeastern Telephone Company.  About that time, she went to a football game and saw a handsome airman sitting on the top of the bleachers.  Her statement was “I am going to marry that man one day!”  History was made that night at the A & W Rootbeer Stand and a few months later she married Gerald D. “Jerry” Menhennett on April 14, 1967. She took a leave of absence from Southeastern and moved to Upstate New York.  In New York, they had a son, Christopher Allen Menhennett.   Tired of the snow, cold weather and missing her family, Jerry moved his family back home to Crestview.   The biggest blessing to moving back, other than to be with family, was having their baby girl Theresa Renee Menhennett.  Upon her return, she went to work as a bookkeeper for W.C. Jones at Tom Thumb. When a position came available, she became employed by the Okaloosa County School District, where her daddy Roy Locke had made a career. Polly became a secretary in the Purchasing Department. When the Purchasing Department relocated to Fort Walton Beach, she became book keeper at Bob Sikes Elementary School, then secretary to Principal Tom Shipp at Baker School, and eventually transferred to Southside Elementary School as the bookkeeper. After relocating Southside students and staff to become the new Riverside Elementary, she retired there with thirty five years of service.  After retirement she enjoyed spending time with her family and cooking meals for everyone.  One of her biggest joys was playing lottery scratch offs, but in typical Polly fashion, she would give away more of her winnings than she would keep. During this time of quarantine, she loved to walk down to the swing for family time with her daughter, sisters and her great great nephews, Hayze and Kade.  She loved their hugs and to watch them run and play.  The time was drawing near for her to become a great grandma, as her grandson Drew and wife Emily were to have a precious baby girl named Maci. But God knew best and she saw Maci before the family.

Polly was preceded in death by her mother and father, Roy Allen and Mary Catherine Locke, brothers Reverend Doctor William D. “Bill” Locke and Henry Marvin Locke, and one brother in law, Lavern Lee “Vern” Newsom.  She is survived by her husband of fifty four years, Jerry Menhennett,  one son, Chris and wife Vanessa Menhennett, one daughter Theresa Menhennett and three grandson, Cole and Cody Menhennett, Drew and wife Emily and soon to arrive great granddaughter Maci Anne.  She is also survived by her sisters Mary E. Newsom, Carolyn Bowling Barnes, and Leona Carnahan and husband Dave, and sister in law Linda Locke Jetton and husband Lynn.  Nieces and nephew Ron Newsom, Cindi (Richard) Atwell, Devanie (Alan) Young, Amy (Dusty) Holloway, and Larry Carnahan.  Great nieces and nephews include:  Kelli (Tony), Alisha, Trevor, Tyler (Jade), Shelby (Blake), Kayla (Cory), Vasana (Cody), Madison, Chandler and Sarah. Great great nephews are Hayze, Kade, Brantley and Kimber.

A celebration of Polly’s life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Emerald Coast Hospice or the national Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the nurses and aides of Emerald Coast Hospice and especially nurse Amanda Poston at the North Okaloosa Medical Center for their loving care but most especially her personal caregivers who have loved and supported Polly for the past four months, Ms. Deena, Ms. Valinda, Ms. Judy, and Ms. Madeline.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview.  Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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