Kent Aubrey Polley
1934-2022
Kent Aubrey Polley passed away peacefully at home on the morning of August 5, 2022, at the age of 88. He was born in Graham, Texas, on February 26, 1934, the first child of Aubrey Hamilton Polley and Mary Delia (Eddleman) Polley. After spending his early years in Wichita Falls, the family moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where his father had purchased a men’s clothing store. Kent worked at Polley’s Clothiers from an early age. He made many life-long friends in those years and was involved in many school activities — including being on the cheerleading squad and in school plays — before graduating from Okmulgee High School in 1952.
Kent attended the University of Oklahoma, where he joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. A very active member all his life, he served as Social Chairman and Rush Chairman, and later in life helped organize many SAE reunions and lunch gatherings.
During Kent’s Freshman year at OU, he met Carol Alyne Morgan on a blind date at the Student Union. Upon graduation, Kent and Carol married on September 1, 1956, in Carol’s home town of Guthrie, Oklahoma. They lived in Norman while Kent completed law school. Their first apartment was across the street from The Mont, a restaurant where they often had anniversary dinners, including on their 50th.
After Kent passed the bar in 1958, he returned to Okmulgee, where he worked in the family store. It was that year that he and Carol had their first child, Diana Carol Polley. In Okmulgee he was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and was active in many other civic organizations.
In 1962, Kent moved his family to Oklahoma City. That same year, he and Carol had their second child, David Kent Polley. Specializing in trusts, wills, and estates, Kent worked at different times for each of the city’s three major banks: First National, Fidelity, and Liberty. In 1986, he went into private law practice, still doing wills and trusts — a job he truly loved, and from which he never seemed to want to retire.
Kent was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church from its beginning. He and Carol were very active there and made many life-long friends. They taught Sunday school to young children, and for many years were counselors for the Methodist Youth Fellowship group. He planned and took part in the group’s many cross-country trips and “Mystery Rambles”. Kids had to remind each other not to step on Mr. Polley, who could be found sleeping at any time and in any position on the floor of any youth bus.
An avid traveler, Kent’s favorite destinations included London; New York; Santa Fe and Red River, New Mexico; and anywhere on the California coast. He always wanted to return to Europe and see even more than he had. He loved classic car shows and museums and could plan his year around when he could go see some old-time Packards or Lincolns.
Kent was a caring, loving family man – and one who truly never met a stranger. He had a particular fondness for children; if you were in a restaurant with a baby, it was a guarantee that Kent Polley was going to introduce himself to you and marvel at just how cute your baby was. He especially enjoyed monthly get togethers with all four generations of his family. He had season tickets to the symphony for decades, and especially enjoyed outdoor concerts with his family. Saying that he had learned to love reading during all the time spent “waiting for Carol to get ready”, he absorbed biographies and travelogues, and had books everywhere — including in the car.
Kent is survived by his wife Carol; daughter Dr. Diana Polley Fugitt and son David; grandchildren Duncan and Austin Fugitt, and Austin’s wife Heather; and great-grandchildren Chase, Maddox, and Theo Fugitt. He is also survived by his sister Mary Kay (forever known to him as “Sitter”) and her husband John Bullard. He was both loving and loved and will be greatly missed by all.
Funeral Services will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, OK on Saturday, August 27th at 2:00 PM.