August 29, 1951 – February 2, 2026
Polly Harrison Rae
Polly Harrison Rae lost her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on February 2, 2025. Polly is survived by her husband of 51 years, Brian Rae; daughters Emily Rae Moran, Allison Rae Popnoe; granddaughters, Ruby Rae Popnoe, Iva Elizabeth Moran and Esme Rae Moran; brother Dale Harrison.
Polly was born to parents Richard and Shirley Harrison in Glen Ellyn, Illinois on August 29, 1951. Richard, a salesman for Moore Business Forms was transferred to Anchorage Alaska in the mid-1950’s. While residing there with her parents, Polly recalls visiting the property that her dad homesteaded on Beaver Lake. She said that “visiting the rustic ‘cabin’ was more like camping.” She also shared a story about her Mom, Shirley, using a broom to shoo a moose away from a young girl on her way to school in Anchorage. Polly attended Government Hill Elementary in Anchorage for a time, a school that was later destroyed during the 1964 Alaskan Earthquake.
Her father, who quickly worked his way up in Moore Business Forms, was transferred to Washington State, where he served in managerial positions in Olympia and Spokane.
Polly completed her elementary and secondary educations in Olympia, and graduated from from Olympia H.S. in 1969, a National Merit simifinalist and a member of their marching band. She received a scholarship to Whitman College, graduating from there in 1973. That fall, the Supertendent of Clarkston S.D. hired her for an elementary teaching position at Grantham Elementary in Clarkston, Washington. He also hired a very fortunate young English teacher and football coach, Brian Rae, who was attracted to Polly the moment he saw her at a new teachers’ welcoming dinner. They began dating that fall and married on May 25, 1974 at the Jesuit House Chapel on the campus of Gonzaga University.
Brian applied for and was hired for teaching and coaching positions at Kentridge H.S. in the Kent S.D. so they packed up their few belongings and moved to the Kent area where they lived from 1974-87. Brian taught English and journalism at both Kentridge and Kentwood High Schools; Polly 4th grade at Soos Creek Elementary during that time period.
In 1987, they moved to Lacey, WA where Brian was hired as an assistant principal at Timberline High School for seven years. During that time, Polly nurtured their daughters, Emily and Allison, and substitute taught at various Elementary schools in the North Thurston S.D.
In 1994, they moved to Lynden, WA to continue their careers in education—Brian as principal of Mt. Baker High School and Polly as a 4th grade teacher at Eagleridge Elementary in Ferndale, where she made a lasting impact on her students and colleauges alike. In recognition of her dedication and excellence, she was nominated for a Golden Apple Award in 2002 and earned her National Board certification in 2010. An active member of the League of Women Voters in Whatcom County, Polly helped promote a civic education textbook written for grades 3-5, including a Spanish language edition.
In June of 2022, both now retired from education, they decided to downsize and move closer to West Seattle, where they would be near their daughter Allison, son-in-law, Clay and granddaughter, Ruby. They also wanted to be near Sea-Tac International Airport where they could more easily visit Emily, her husband, Chirstopher Moran and their daughter, Iva, in London.
Polly found an ideal condo with a Puget Sound view in Des Moines, Washington, just 20 minutes from West Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. This move turned out to be timely, as just thirty months later, on January 4, 2025, Polly was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began her weekly treatments at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle. She bravely fought her incurable foe with everything she had, wanting to “grandma” as long as possible. But, at 4:42 am on February 2, the spreading cancer took her from us.
We love and miss you, Polly! The many quilts you made for family members and friends will remind us of your warm, engaging personality and many talents.
Donations in Polly’s honor can be made to the Gene & Irene Wockner Hospice Care Center 12822 Lane NE, Kirkland, WA 98034.
A celebration of Polly’s life will be held during the summer.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.