Polly Lynn Zehm

Oct. 30, 1957 to July 1, 2022

 

August 4, 2022



Polly Lynn Zehm passed away on July 1, 2022, at her home in Olympia, Wash. She was 64 years old. Polly was born Oct. 30, 1957, in Spokane, Wash., to Leonard and Mona Zehm (Lundstrum).

Polly grew up in the Palouse, graduating from Liberty High School in 1976.

Polly graduated from Central Washington University in 1980 with a BS in Biology, and was promptly hired by the City of Ellensburg; her first laboratory job; at Ellensburg’s Waste Water Treatment Plant. She was the first woman, ever, to work at the plant, helping to pave the way for the first female lead operator there, which finally occurred in the mid-1990s., the environment and people of Washington state.

Amongst many career highlights, Polly served as Deputy Director Washington State Department of Ecology, from 2003 until her retirement in 2020. Prior to that Polly was Regional Director for Washington State Department of Ecology’s Central Regional Office, in Yakima.

In each of her positions, Polly exemplified the Departments Mission:

“…to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.”

After her retirement, Polly was able to devote more time on her passions for gardening, birding, and hiking; exploring the many beauties of Washington, especially her beloved Nisqually Delta, where she often walked.

Polly was preceded in death by her parents, Mona and Leonard Zehm, her brother Gary, and her husband and partner of 27 years, Phil Crane.

She is survived by Beth Zehm, her cherished stepmother, and her brothers Dwight (Julie), Barry (Karen), and Keith (Susan), and sister in law Carla (Gary) Zehm, many special nieces and nephews, as well as countless other dear family and friends.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff, nurses, and doctors at Providence Hospital SoundHomeCare and Hospice, Virginia Mason Medical Center - particularly the Oncology Department, and Providence St. Peter’s Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity or cause important to you, and your community.

Suggestions include: the Nisqually Land Trust, the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, Planned Parenthood, your local hospice, PANCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).

A private memorial for the family has been scheduled.

Events for family and friends will be announced at a later date.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024