Mary Bacon Parke Ostheimer, “Polly”
ST. IGNATIUS — “Polly” was born October 4, 1935 in West Chester, Pa. to Thomas Parke, M.D. and Caroline Lippincott Hoopes Parke, and she left us peacefully in her sleep on October 24, 2011 from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.
She graduated from the Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont, Pa. and then Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H. with an A.S. degree in medical technology and qualified as a medical secretary and records librarian. She was employed as a medical secretary and technologist in her father’s general practice office and then by William Plummer, M.D. in West Chester, Pa., followed by Chester County Hospital as their records librarian.
Polly and Tony Ostheimer were married June 22, 1957 at Downingtown Friends (Quaker) Meeting and Polly then began a second career as a Marine Corps officer’s wife at Quantico, Va. and Camp LeJeune, N.C.
Her third career as mother and homemaker began when daughter Caroline Parke Ostheimer was born at Onslow Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, N.C. Returning to Pennsylvania, Polly gave Tony three sons, Edward McIlvain “Ted” Ostheimer, Richard Knight Ostheimer, and William Bacon “Bill” Ostheimer.
She began her fourth career as an office manager for Tony, a Chartered Life Underwriter. She also managed their Hopewell Farm, then Hideaway Farm, and finally Molesworth Montana Institute and Ranch in the Mission Valley, near St. Ignatius, where she lived for 37 years.
Polly and Tony celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007 with family and friends at their ranch. By that time Polly was wheelchair bound but had been in all 50 States, seven Canadian Provinces, and 11 European countries. She had also been co-recording secretary for TOPS Club Ronan where she was a member for 18 years, had become an expert amateur gardener, and had been first mate on their 40’-live-aboard Salmon Troller “F/V Item 113” fishing and exploring in southeast Alaska. In addition she had knitted and crocheted numerous items including sweaters for all eight grandchildren and many others.
Polly is survived by Anthony McIlvain Ostheimer, her husband of 54 years; all four of their children and their spouses, Caroline Parke Ostheimer, also known as Carolina Jesus (Muthumuthu Sooriyakumar) of Hawaii, Edward McIlvain “Ted” Ostheimer (Shawn Alyssa Ryan) of Bass Creek, Richard Knight Ostheimer (Nan Bovingdon) of Missoula, and William Bacon “Bill” Ostheimer, (Kelly Marie Krantz) of Eight Mile Creek; and eight grandchildren, Sai Sooriyakumar of Hawaii, Marlee R. Ostheimer (Josh Cahoon), Kailun E. Ostheimer (Heather Martin), Ashley N. Kendell (Ryan Kendell) of Taylorsville, Utah, Joshua P. Ostheimer (Amber Wahl), Christopher J. Ostheimer, Colby T. Ostheimer, and Abigail E. Ostheimer, all of western Montana. She was blessed to meet three great grandchildren, Rylie M. Kendell, Gavin R. Kendell, and Ellis James Cahoon, and a fourth now on the way. Polly is also survived by her sisters Martha Hoopes Parke Gibian of Foulkeways in Gwyned Valley, Pa., Margaret Wistar Parke Gober of Cochranville, Pa., her brother Thomas Edge Parke of Hawk Valley, Denver, Lancaster County, Pa., and many wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins, and “in-laws.”
Polly was the loving magnet that brought families together and the glue that held them joyously up for her Creator. For Polly, her families and especially her grandchildren were most important, even before her gardens. She loved to sit and read to and with them for hours at a time. Her heart and love were larger than life. She was eternally patient, and was always there when needed with hugs, praise or encouragement, and had unkind words for no one. Polly touched many and was a beautiful example of pure, humble, and loving service. Her loving way and beautiful gardens seemed made for Heaven.
A “celebrate Polly day” will take place 2-6 p.m., Saturday, June 23 for family, neighbors, and friends, at her ranch home in St. Ignatius. Earlier memorial celebrations took place last November at the ranch and as an “open house” at Edgewater Townhouses in Missoula.
Polly loved hiking and biking so, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to Missoula Freecycles in Missoula, Trails MIST, the Missoula Sustainable Transportation Institute, the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, TOPS in Ronan, or to your church or favorite charity in Mission Valley.
