Michael Wade Polk, 77, of Hemphill, Texas passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at his residence with his wife, JoAnn, and his dear friends Montie and Fay Barmore and Gene and Carolyn Hungerford by his side.

Wade was born on May 5, 1946, in Picayune, Mississippi to Clarence Earl Polk and Johnnie Myrle Pearson Polk.  He grew up in the small community of Caesar just outside the city of Picayune.

Wade served his country by enlisting in the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1965.  He was given an Honorable Discharge as an SP6, E6 from the 890th Engineering Battalion on March 10th, 1975.

He graduated from Pearl River Central High School in Carriere, Mississippi in 1964. Not long after that he began working for South Central Bell as a lineman.  For the next 44 years he worked for the Bell System in the states of Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado and Washington advancing from lineman, to installer, to cable repairman and eventually into manager of his own construction crew. Following his third and final retirement from the telecommunications industry he moved his family to Pendleton Harbor Subdivision in Sabine County where they have lived for 13 years.

He met and married the love of his life, JoAnn Seal, on June 14, 1968.  At the time of his passing, they were one week shy of their 55th wedding anniversary.

To his friends he was called "Waders." To his children he was called "Dad" "Daddy" or "Pops."  To his grandchildren he was called "Grandpa" or "Papa." To his great grandchildren he was called "Great Grandpa."  Wade loved his family dearly and often wished he could spend more time with them.

He was a loving and caring person, and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He loved making people laugh and always had a joke or something funny to say. When anyone asked him how he was doing, he would always say "I don't know, you'll have to ask JoAnn," or "JoAnn hasn't told me yet."  He said that people do not laugh enough and his mission was to make them laugh. One of his life lessons he shared was "As your traveling down the road of life, just keep it between the ditches."

Wade loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He was a great prayer warrior.  His favorite passage was found in James 5:16 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (KJV)  He had a servant's heart, never needing or wanting recognition for what he did.  He served as a Deacon at First Southern Baptist Church, Douglas, Wyoming, where he was ordained, Parkway Baptist Church, Franktown, CO and also at First Baptist Church, Hemphill, TX where he was a member. He loved singing the old gospel songs and had a wonderful base voice.

He was preceded in death by his parents C. Earl Polk and Johnnie Myrle Pearson Polk

Left to cherish his memory is his wife JoAnn Polk; his son, Darrin Polk and wife, Carolyn, of Casper Wyoming; his daughter, Deanna Cason of Colorado Springs, Colorado; six grandchildren: Derek Eckenrod and wife, Camille, of Casper, WY, Elizabeth Espy of Saratoga, WY, Niki Polk of Missouri and Ethan Polk of Casper, WY, David & Jacob Cason of Colorado Springs, CO; seven great grandchildren: Kamdyn, Samuel, Arianna and little Miss Frankie Espy,  Gunner, Adalee and Madison Eckenrod; his two sisters, Linda Watson and husband, David of Florida and Karen Sones and husband, Jasper, of Carriere, MS; numerous nieces and nephews and wonderful long time friends.

Wade's Celebration of Life Service will begin with a time of visitation on Monday, June 12 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church, Hemphill, TX, with the Celebration Service to follow at 11:00 am officiated by Pastor Troy Richardson.  Burial will follow at a later time at Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Picayune, MS.