Polly Roberts

Polly Roberts died peacefully at home on June 26th, 2021, just three weeks shy of her 91st birthday.  She was born on July 17, 1930 in East Orange, New Jersey to Monte & Charlotte Carroll.   Shortly after that her parents moved to Denver where she was raised.  She grew up at 146 S Corona Street in a household that included her mother, father, aunt, uncle, cousin and grandmother.  She used to say she was an only child who had 3 mothers, 2 fathers and a brother.  It was an active neighborhood and she would regale us with stories of fun with many of the other children nearby.

She graduated from South High School in 1948, then attended the University of Colorado in Boulder.  She was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and kept in contact with several of her sisters there the rest of her life.  She graduated in 1952 and became a second-grade school teacher.

During the summer of 1951 while she was working at the Phantom Valley Dude Ranch near Estes Park, she met Fred (“Frog”) Roberts, a student at Colorado A & M in Fort Collins.  They married on August 22, 1953.   Fred went on to Veterinary school and graduated on August 19, 1955.  Polly was pregnant and due in October but went into labor that night and gave birth unexpectedly to twins Monte & Mark the next day.  Their friends said it was just like the wife of a vet to have a litter!  Shortly after that, Fred was drafted into the Air Force and stationed in Clovis, NM for two years.  Upon their return to Denver, Fred opened Roberts Animal Hospital, later renamed Evans East Animal Hospital, while Polly remained at home raising her boys.  In 1960 Fred Clay was born.

When the boys were older, Polly became a substitute teacher for the Denver Public School system for many years.  In the mid-1970’s she took a job working at Edward’s Pipe & Tobacco shop.  She would come home each day with a wonderful robust flavored tobacco scent.  After she retired she was very active and enjoying summers at their family cabin in Fairplay.   She spent many hours hiking up and down streams in hip waders while fly fishing late into her eighties.

Frog & Polly worked many years on the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.  Polly was also very active in the Optimist Club and with the Sisters of Unity Church.  Polly loved to watch the Broncos play and was very vocal cheering them on.  She would get pretty upset if they didn’t win.

Preceded in death by her husband, Fred (Frog) Roberts. Survived by her children, Monte J. Roberts (Janet), Mark D. Roberts and F. Clay Roberts. Polly very much enjoyed her seven grandchildren:  Kathrine (Rick), Noah (Shauna), Paul (Alyssa), Matthew (Molly), Noel (Brad), Elizabeth (Trevor) and Susannah (Reilly).  She was very proud of her six great-grandchildren, and looked forward to another due near the end of July.

A Celebration of Polly's Life will be held on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 4pm at Unity Church, 3021 S. University Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80210. For Live Online Stream go to Unity Spiritual Center's Facebook Page.

Please share memories of Polly and condolences with her family by signing the online Tribute Wall above.