Polly Keck Knight, age 97, of Indialantic, Florida, passed away at home on March 14, 2021 of natural
causes. Born October 12, 1923 in Butler, Pennsylvania, Polly was the third of five daughters born to
Albert Frederick Keck and Marjorie Eisler Keck. She grew up in Butler surrounded by the large
extended Eisler family, who stepped in to support the Keck sisters after the early deaths of their
parents. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary Hooks (Vernon, Sr.), Jean Miller (William, Sr.),
Kathleen Smeltzer (Robert), and a sister Emily who died in infancy.
Polly was an excellent student at Butler High School and entered Grove City College at the age of 16,
earning a degree in chemistry. After graduating from college, she met her future husband, Mellen
Aubrey Knight, a chemist, while working as his lab assistant. They married in 1945 and moved to
White Bear Lake, Minnesota shortly thereafter, where they raised their two sons. In 1965 Polly entered
the University of Minnesota to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education. For 12 years she was
a dedicated and beloved elementary schoolteacher in White Bear Lake, first at the Vadnais School and
later at the Lincoln School. She and Mell happily retired to Florida in 1979. A few years after Mell's
death in 1983, Polly met Thomas Geary, who was her beloved companion for 17 years until his death.
Polly was passionate about the arts. She had an intense appreciation for design and enjoyed creating
beauty both inside and outside the home. Having learned to play the piano from her mother, a
conservatory graduate, she adored classical music and opera and was an active supporter of many
musical organization throughout her life, most recently the Melbourne Chamber Music Society in
Brevard County.
Polly is survived by her sons, Frederick Keck Knight (Ann) of Wayland, MA and Thomas Edward
Knight (Susan) of Hopkinton, MA, by five beloved granddaughters, Celia Knight (Jason Shelkowitz),
Emily Knight (David Faulkner), Victoria Knight (Troy Brown), Melanie Carlsen (Eric), and Catherine
Johnson (Craig), four great grandchildren, Shelly Knight, Olive Knight, Miles Carlsen, and Benvolio
Knight, cousin Ruth Eisler Clark, nephews Vernon Hooks, Jr. (Sal Sotille) and William Miller, Jr. (Gail)
and niece Marjorie Granat (Ken). Polly's greatest pride and joy in life were her children and
grandchildren. They will miss her energy, kindness, support, generosity, strong opinions, and
unconditional love.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Margaret and Trisha for the dedicated and loving care
they gave to Polly over the last four years, particularly during the past year's heartbreaking family
separation caused by the COVID pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Thomas C. Geary Presidential Scholarship

Fund at University of South Dakota Foundation, Wagner Alumni Center, 1110 N. Dakota Street,
Vermillion, SD 57069. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Seawinds, Melbourne, FL.