Kerry Polk

Kerry Polk

April 12, 1956 – October 1, 2017

Wonderful wife, dog-mom, sister, friend, musician, songwriter and gifted music teacher Kerry Polk passed away October 1st in Austin, TX after a courageous battle with a rare neurodegenerative disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Polk was a 1978 graduate of Mississippi State University where she studied music. As a piano teacher in Austin for more than 25 years, Polk taught hundreds of students to make music a regular part of their lives.

“Having lessons once a week with you has been such a part of my life that I cannot remember not taking lessons from you…I will continue to play in college and after,” wrote one student in a thank you note.

A prominent fixture in the local Austin music scene, Polk’s music was often heard on KUT (now KUTX), and her song “’65 Ford Fairlane” was featured on NPR’s Car Talk. She released two CD’s of her own songs and worked with Rich Brotherton (Robert Earl Keen), and Mark Hallman (Ani diFranco, Carole King) among others.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Les and Joy Polk of Clinton, MS, and her father-in-law Charles Reynolds of Boston, Massachusetts, as well as several aunts and uncles. She is survived by her devoted wife, Jenny Reynolds, of Austin, TX, mother-in-law Betsy Reynolds of Wellesley, MA, brother-in-law Chris and Bredt (Handy) Reynolds of Wayland, MA, sister-in-law Laura Reynolds of Newton, MA, and siblings Eliane Geren of Princeton, NJ, Eddie and Weezie Polk of Jackson, MS, Bill and Georgia Polk of Brandon MS, Robert and Judy (Polk) Smith of Horn Lake, MS, and Suzanne Polk of Austin, TX as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30pm at Mercury Hall in Austin, TX (www.mercuryhall.com).

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following charities:

Kids In a New Groove (provides private music lessons to kids living in foster families) kidsinanewgroove.org

Austin Pets Alive (no-kill animal rescue) https://www.austinpetsalive.org

Cure PSP.org (source of information and supports for patients, caregivers and families affected by Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy) www.psp.org