We're saddened by news that cousin Mike Pollock died on Monday, September 27 in Beaumont, Texas. That's Mike and his wife Barbara above – in happier times – on an Alaskan voyage back in 2006.
Like many immigrant families that settled in the heartland, Mike's maternal grandparents, Pete and Dora Miller, raised a good-sized family – only to have several of their children and grandchildren leave their small Nebraska village home to find new lives in Texas, Washington, California, Kentucky, and other far away places.
Mike's mother, Pauline Miller was the first of Pete and Dora's children to be born in Whitney, Nebraska – and one of the first to leave Whitney, finding her way to Texas, where she would marry Olen Pollock in 1948. Michael Lynn was born April 15, 1950 in Houston, but would spend most of his years in the Beaumont and Vidor area.
With Miller descendants scattered across the country, many cousins grew up never really knowing each other, except for those who lived in their state or region. We suspect that more than a few cousins never met one another.
Here is a link to the Michael Lynn Pollock, Sr. obituary that appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper on October 2, 2021.
We were fortunate to meet and visit with Mike Pollock a time or two – not exactly and close relationship – but one we recall fondly. We understand that he was plagued with heart troubles for many years. He persevered, but finally was taken from us last week.
There's no way to effectively encapsulate one's life through mere words, but we're compelled to share information about which others may not know.
Mike started his career as a machinist sweeping out a machine shop and learning the business from the ground floor. He would eventually own his own business, A-1 Machines in Beaumont.
