Polly H. Tuttle

Mary Mavourneen, “Polly,” Hamilton Tuttle was born on August 7, 1922 in Fort Gaines, Georgia. She grew up on a cotton and peanut plantation along with her beloved sister, Bette. Although they lost their mother as babies, they were raised by a loving father and large extended family.

Polly graduated from Andrew College in the midst of World War II. She served as a civilian in the War Department sending intelligence by teletype back-and-forth between Washington DC and the European front. After the war, she went to work for the Department of Agriculture and moved to St. Louis, Missouri where she met her husband, Frederic Irving Tuttle. They married on October 2, 1954 and moved to Belle Glade, Florida. Their first child, Katherine Rose, was born there on May 24, 1956. Soon afterward, they returned to St. Louis and welcomed two more daughters, Laurie Diane on September 12, 1959, and Maureen Annette on January 4, 1964. Their path then took them to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1964, followed by Moses Lake, Washington in 1967, and finally, to Stanton, California in 1971.

Polly and Fred enjoyed many happy years together filled with family, friends, and countless adventures. After Fred’s passing in 1994, Polly continued to pursue numerous interests including cooking, sewing, oil painting, travel, walking, bicycling, and teaching Sunday School. She was an active member of Crescent Baptist Church for over 40 years. Polly passed peacefully at home on March 18, 2012 just six weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

She is survived by daughters Katherine Tuttle (Andrew Boulet), Laurie Tegen, and Maureen Postorino (John) along with three grandchildren (Zac Tegen, Angela Boulet, and Isabella Postorino), sister Bette Shanks, nephew Bruce Shanks and family, niece Teresa Potter and family, and nephews William McNeal and Carl McNeal.

A celebration of Polly Tuttle’s life will be held on March 23 at Crescent Baptist Church, 622 N. Gilbert Street, Anaheim, California 92801; phone 714-535-1313. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:30 to 11:00 AM, followed by the service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and a reception from 12:00 to 1:30 PM. A graveside remembrance will be held at 2:15 PM at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Boulevard, Westminster, CA 92683.

Memorial donations may be made to Crescent Baptist Church.