Polly Brown

Polly Marie Yaple Brown

August 30, 1935 – March 4, 2026

In her 90 years on this earth, Polly was a doer that sometimes shook things up in the town of Amory.

Originally from Erie, PA, Polly Brown taught kindergarten in Ashtabula, OH, after marrying Charles H. Brown Jr. in 1957, after graduating from Westminster College in PA.

In 1964, a new manufacturer, True Temper corporation, built a new facility in Amory. Polly, Chuck and their three children, Charles H. Brown III “Chip”, Darcy Lynne Brown and Dana Paul Brown came with it. The young family made a life for themselves in Amory, helping establish and settle the Meadowbrook subdivision as it grew from a former cotton field into a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood.

Polly taught first grade during the 1966-67 school year in the East Amory Elementary school, which is now home to the walking track. She remained in contact with some of her first graders throughout their lives. After that year of full-time teaching, she became a regular substitute at the elementary and middle schools. During these years she also served as a Brownie Troop Mom.

Never one to just sit still and become a full -time housewife, she later established a catering business which serviced banquets, weddings, receptions and birthdays. Her original painted cakes were locally famous and her attention to detail created many beautiful memories.

Her family settled into the First Presbyterian Church of Amory, where she served several terms in the congregational session and participated in church activities including, but not limited to care packages for veterans and active military, baby packages for families in need and helped establish the original Amory Food Pantry at the Presbyterian Church, along with establishing the original Meals on Wheels Program in Amory. Many of these activities were coordinated not only through the church, but also in her long involvement and leadership in the Century Club and Junior Auxiliary, which recognized her as Citizen of the Year in 1988. She also taught English as a Second Language at IJC and formed a lasting bond with an extended family immigrated from Taiwan.

Between all her local civic activities and helping raise her grandchildren while her son was deployed, she also cared for her mother and mother-in-law in their final years.

Her favorite leisure pastime for many years was playing bridge. She was very active in clubs singularly and with her husband and was known as the matriarch of the club she was active with through this past year.

If Amory had an original civil rights activist, it was Polly Brown. She never sought accolades or recognition, but her passion carried on in the lives of many. The number of lives she touched are countless, and many never knew her name.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ivan C. Yaple and Nellie Rogers Yaple of Erie, PA, her brothers Gordon and David and a daughter Pearl.

She is survived by her husband Chuck and their three children along with 7 grandchildren and one great-grand daughter.

A Celebration of LIfe Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church of Amory will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm with Rev. Tom Cheatham officiating.  Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church in Amory from 1:00 pm until the service hour.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.