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William Michael “Mike” Polk was born December 3, 1949, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to William Frank Polk and Bertha Maye Brawley. He was raised by his father, Frank, and mother Jessie LaRaye Jenkins Damme Polk. He died Friday, February 28, 2025, in Collinsville, Oklahoma, at the age of 75 years. Mike completed his secondary education in Haskell, Oklahoma, and graduated with the Haskell High School Class of 1968. He continued his education attending Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, before earning his Bachelor’s degree in education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Mike was married February 14, 1976, Valentine’s Day, in Checotah, Oklahoma, to Mary Vandiver. He began a longtime successful career as a history teacher and coach which took him to Porter, Checotah, Owasso, Coweta, and Oologah. He coached boys and girls basketball as well as football, softball, baseball, golf, and track. He led the Owasso Lady Rams to the 1990 Class 5A State Championship, the first in their basketball history. Some of Mike’s other cherished accomplishments in his career included the 1985 Oklahoma High School All-State Girls Basketball Coach for the Large East and Large East Offensive Coach of the Year, 1990 Frontier Conference Girls Coach of the Year, 1990 Oklahoma High School Coaches Association Girls Basketball Coach of the Year, 1990 All-State Large East Coach, and coach for the Oklahoma/Iowa All-Star games in Iowa in 1990..
Mike enjoyed a variety of pastimes, which typically revolved around the sporting events of his grandkids in his latter years. Most recently, he was still keeping stats for his grandchildren’s games with the Collinsville Cardinals. Mike relished his role as “Papa” to his grandkids, and also loved supporting all their teammates and coaches. He also enjoyed working daily crossword puzzles, reading, and the occasional poker games with friends, winning most of the time.

Those he leaves behind who hold a lifetime of cherished memories include:
His wife of over 49 years; Mary
Daughter; Lindsey Schlomann and husband Brett
Son; Grant Polk and wife April
Grandsons; Chayse Schlomann and Callan Schlomann
Granddaughters; Marlow Polk and Harper Polk
Sisters; Rannah Perryman and husband Butch
Jalae Polk
Brother; Jonathan Polk and wife Jennifer
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Faye, O’Connor, and father, Frank Polk.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Owasso with Pastor Matthew Vandiver officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be Billy Oliver, Bob Coke, Danny Foster, Shane Eicher, Frosty Turpen, Mike Boyd, Rodney Goins, Roger Smith, and Jimmy McLish. Honorary casket bearers will be Larry Cariker, Larry Kennedy, Ron Ward, Jerry Thompson, Gary Nichols, Jonathan Polk, and Butch Perryman. Committal service and interment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park Cemetery in Owasso, Oklahoma.