Lisa Louise Polk

Lisa Polk, Life of an Angel

June 18, 1961 in Lancaster California she was brought to us by Harold K and Eddie Sue Whitfield. They weren’t sure which hospital would best for their Lisa to be born in, so they settle for under rock just north of town. For her first few years Lisa was convinced that was where she actually came from. Her father, Whit, convinced the curious little girl that she came from there and that if she kept asking so many questions his story would always change.

Lisa’s first years were in southern California for Whit’s work but then his work brought the family, Lisa and sister Kay up to Rancho Cordova. Lisa never stopped telling us about their beautiful house, wonderful cats and travels on her early tricycle rides in various state of undress, around the neighborhood. She always kept her family in suspense with creative activities such as opening doors on her own, drinking fluids not intended for consumption and at least a few trips to emergency rooms. Some of the family doctors were concerned that she was not being watched but then she started checking the doctor’s own cabinets when he wasn’t looking.

High school years were spent mostly at St Francis High School in downtown Sacramento after she moved from Rancho Cordova to 23rd and Capital in a three, story Victorian house. This was also the beginning of some of her most special friendships from school, trips around California for either antique treasures or antique shows with Sue and Whit. Lisa had an early love/hate relationship with antiques. She would talk about how she hated being forced to go antiquing with them but then she would follow that with how she knew as much as her Dad when finding that one special antique in the rough. She began her early bartering capabilities when working these shows, she continued that ability later in life by always excelling in sales positions in many future jobs. Lisa’s sales ability seemed to get even better when she was convincing me about a “needed” vacation, another cat or one more pair of shoes.

November 26, 1988 Lisa and I were married in, yes, Rancho Cordova. Lisa and I brought to our marriage three beautiful children Steven, Nicole and Tyler. She adored, always cared for and mothered all of them as only a “mother lion” could do. After a brief stay in the Palm Springs area, we moved to Soledad where Lisa came completely involved in her second love of dog shows. Her achievements included finishing her first dog ever as an AKC champion. Her love of volleyball and then tennis expanded her athletic career for the next ten years. She was captain of a local volleyball team that won a championship and then went on to captain her ladies interclub tennis team for the Monterey Bay area.

All of these achievements don’t even begin defining this beautiful woman, Lisa Louis Polk. She would make friends everywhere, she would defend her family, friends and pets against any harm, with her life. Nobody would see her without a smile or a kind thought. Once, on a vacation in Costa

Rica, we were having dinner outdoors and she excused herself, while I waited for dessert, to go see a nearby cat. I sat patiently, ate my dessert enjoyed some coffee but no Lisa came back. I know she enjoyed seeing other wild life so I gave her some extra exploring time. Well, close to an hour has gone by so I went to find my missing wife. Just down the hill in a garden area I saw another couple talking and laughing with Lisa. She had just met them and now they were her best friends, ready adopt her as a daughter and we were invited to dinner with them the next night.

Lisa has also had some very difficult and trying times the past 8-10 years but even through those times she kept up her uplifting love of life and spirit of smiles, no matter what. Just days before her going home to God, she talked to all her children and sister. They all heard her say, she would fight with everything she had and leave nothing on the table for any doubt about her strength in spirit. She was someone who we all will try and live up to her expectations of living life to the fullest, no matter what cards we are dealt, we can only try to be the very person she was in this life. Lisa, we will all be together again, with God besides us and the Rainbow Bridge to cross over together.