Timothy Michael Poll of Blue Ridge, Texas, passed away February 11, 2022, at the age of 56 after a heroic battle with Covid. He was born on September 14, 1965, to Terry Poll and Marilyn McDonald Poll in Pontiac, Michigan. Tim married his soulmate Melody Stanley on March 18, 2006, at Granny and Papaw’s house. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Tim and his infectious laugh will be missed dearly by those who knew and loved him.
Tim is survived by his wife, Melody Poll of Blue Ridge, Texas; his son Austin Poll and fiancé Emily Beam of Dallas, Texas, daughter Presley Stanley and Andrea Hamilton of Addison, Texas, and daughter Eryn Stanley and Zachary Zajdl of Royse City, Texas; parents, Terry and Marilyn Poll of Arizona; siblings, Diane Adams of Illinois, Cathy Moews and husband Bobby of Illinois, and Kevin Poll and husband Jose Fleites of Arizona; and a host of other loving family and friends, including his pack of misfit animals and his beloved original 1932 Ford 3-window coupe.
Tim was preceded in death by grandparents Tom and Helen Poll, Ted and Annie McDonald, and uncle Allen McDonald.
Although Tim would have preferred to have been appointed as CEO of Timmy’s Rod Shop, the majority of his professional life was spent with State Farm and Jones Lang LaSalle/Ally Financial. A highlight of his career was the day he left his snow blower behind in Michigan to relocate to Texas. But Tim’s most significant career accomplishment will forever be the relationships he made with people he worked with–his friends. Oh, the stories they could tell.
A few paragraphs on a website will never sum up such a life well lived. From the time he was just a little boy, Tim spent his time doing what he loved. Tim’s Mom and Dad always say little Timmy would “tear apart a Tonka truck.” His love for cars began as a child, going to car shows, piling into his parent’s 1969 Ford Convertible or the family’s 1932 Ford 3-window Coupe, and riding in the rumble seat with his brother. Years later when Tim got his first real job, he bought back that same ’32 Ford the family previously owned, and Tim continued the car show tradition with his own family. Tim was always researching his dream car, buying his dream car, briefly driving his dream car, then selling his dream car to buy another. But, he never let go of that ’32.
“Trainwreck Timmy” could always be found in his shop, listening to his favorite Texas/Red Dirt music from KHYI – The Range and some good ol’ Stevie Ray Vaughn while thumbing through his extensive hot rod magazine collection (if you know, you know). His most recent project was working on Austin’s 1970 Duster. Whether he was surrounded by his prestigious Tach Twister club members or working by himself, Tim always heard his Dad’s voice saying, “Focus, son!”
The only thing that could pull Tim out of his shop was his yearly pilgrimage to some beach with family and friends. Tim had mastered the art of packing light - flip flops, sunglasses, swimsuit, koozie; unfortunately, his family never did. Tim earned his Master’s Degree in Mini-Van Beach Trip Packing in 2006. Sunup to sundown, rain or shine, Tim was on that beach, toes in the sand and a cold beverage in hand, enjoying his music, thumbing through Hot Rod Magazine, and without a care in the world.
When Tim wasn’t at the beach, you’d find him with family–relaxing in his parents’ pool, dancing in the streets of Key West, floating the river, sending Far Side comics to his Dad and kids, quoting lines from Airplane, or listening to live music with his beloved Mel.
It would be remiss not to mention Tim’s long-fought battle with pizza addiction. In his absence, Domino’s (as well as Cadillac Pizza and Lou Malnati’s, etc.) lost a faithful customer. Tim eventually perfected his own deep dish pizza recipe and always got excited when his new King Arthur Flour catalog arrived in the mail. Tim’s dream meal consisted of deep dish pizza, a big ol’ glass of red wine, salad, and a super-sized bowl of chocolate/peanut butter ice cream overflowing with Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate syrup. Absolute legend.
In summary, the words on this page will never truly capture the palpable loss of Timothy Michael Poll. We feel it in every space he ever occupied. Husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. We are grateful to have shared this life with him. Godspeed.
A Celebration of Life for our beloved Tim is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Princeton, Texas. Details will be shared at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tim’s name to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (https://themmrf.org/) Tim battled multiple myeloma for a number of years, and in the words of his oncologist, Dr. Brian Berryman, MD, “He is my absolute hero. Humble. Funny. Smart ass. Fighter. Warrior. My friend and patient. I love him.”