Kathie Patra Polk (Mcmahon)

Kathie Patra Polk (McMahon) was born on December 30th, 1946 in Portland, Oregon to William McMahon and Francis Harter. She went to Centennial High School in Gresham, Oregon. One day at a local show she would meet Zollie Polk who was a musician playing there. He swept her off her feet and invited her to go on tour with him. Touring with Zollie was a thrilling time for her because she got to see many different places and of course she was sharing those memories with her love. Soon the couple would find themselves married on June 7th, 1975 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This would start an almost 50-year life together as husband and wife. They would then settle down in the Los Angeles area living most of their lives in the Los Angeles area until a few years ago when Kathie moved up to Salem, OR following Zollie’s passing. Kathie went to cosmetology school and would do peoples makeup early on, but primarily she would work in retail. She worked for many years for Robinson May (which would later become Macy’s) as a manager and then later for Ross Dress for Less. Kathie had a passion for many things during her life. She was a lover of world music, specifically music from African roots. This love for music she would share with her husband and when he wasn’t playing they would be in each other’s arms dancing. She also was a brilliant painter who would draw and paint many beautiful works of art. One painting that she did of a group of 5 of her favorite African American blues Harmonica players is being considered for display at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. Kathie was also described as being always well put together. She would always have her hair, nails and clothing done up nice and she was always one to represent good taste. Kathie passed away on October 16th, 2018 in Salem, Oregon surrounded by loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents William McMahon and Francis Harter, as well as, her step dad Theodore Sauer. She was survived by her sisters Paula and Terri, brothers Roger and Clifford, sister in law Irene and Brother in Law James, her best friend Susie Rhoads and many other friends, nieces and nephews. She will be laid to rest with her husband Zollie at Ferriday Cemetery in Ferriday, Louisiana.