Alene Pauline “Polly” Russell
Graveside services for Alene Pauline “Polly” Russell, 71, Pottersville, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 29, 2012, at New Liberty Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Russell died at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 23, 2012, at Ozarks Medical Center.
She was born August 24, 1941, at West Plains, Missouri, to ElderAugusta Raymond and Oda Ethel Drumright Downen. She graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1959. On October 1, 1961, she was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Alvin C. Russell and they were blessed with three sons, Alvin Jr., Kevin and Steven. Polly had several jobs that dealt with secretarial duties. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a tax examiner for seven years; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in the Department of Faculty Economics, Geography and Management; the Luke Air Force Base in the Tactical Command Wing and she worked for the Children’s Advocacy Program at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Polly was baptized into Pilgrim’s Rest Primitive Baptist Church at the age of fifteen years by Elder Ben Kimbrough and was later a member of First Pilgrim’s Rest Church, Pomona, Missouri, Pike’s Peak Primitive Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Lone Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church, Mesa, Arizona.
She is survived by her husband, Alvin C. Russell, Jr., of the family home; her three sons, Alvin Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Kevin, Flagstaff, Arizona and Steven, Pomona, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Steven, Patricia, Justin, Katie, Christina, Rebecca, Jacob, Sarah; three great-grandchildren, Zoie, Zander and Helo; one sister, Lois Wigger, Sparta, Missouri; and one brother, Joe Downen, Mesa, Arizona.
Her parents, three brothers and two sisters, Junior Downen, Lee Downen, Ted Downen, Alice Smyth and Dorys Wilson, precede her in death.
Mrs. Russell will lie in state from 4:00 p.m., Friday until Noon Saturday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Linda Calhoun
December 26, 2012 @ 10:20 pm
As a former co-worker and friend of Lois, I met Polly at Ozark Action and have good memories. So sorry for your loss.
Sharon Endicott
December 27, 2012 @ 9:36 am
I will miss Polly.
Stephanie Wilson Lasister
December 27, 2012 @ 9:38 am
My prayers for comfort go to Aunt Polly’s family. She was a beautiful and righteous woman. I know she is singing sweetly in the heavenly choir. So many happy memories of my childhood are with this amazing lady. She leaves behind a legacy of loving and caring for all. She will be truly missed.
Vicki (Kissick) Stegall
December 27, 2012 @ 11:57 am
Polly and I graduated high school together, and, I am sad to say, lost touch with each other after I moved away from West Plains. It was only recently that we were able to re-unite on Facebook. I enjoyed “speaking” with her again, and her passing will leave a void in the fabric of life.
My condolences to her family.
annie
December 31, 2012 @ 11:40 pm
You will be so missed.
carrol fowler
January 8, 2013 @ 11:14 am
i remember going to visit uncle ray and oda when i was a kid. i found her on fb. and we shared photos from a llong time ago. she reminded me of my mother, vivian. she loved flower s o much. she will be remembered forever. my respects to the familly
Shashe Kalona-Martin
August 25, 2013 @ 9:50 am
I didn’t realize Polly had passed away. She was a FB friend to me and I wondered why this past Spring and Summer she didn’t post photos of her flowers and he big cat. I went there yesterday to wish her a happy birthday and read the posting that she had gone to be with Jesus. I felt so sad but I know she’s in a better place. She was a wonderful friend! I am so sorry for the loss to the family. You have my most sincere sympathies and prayers as various anniversaries come and go. God be with all of you!