Pauline "Polly" Masters Swenson Obituary (1939 - 2017)

PAULINE MASTERS (POLLY) SWENSON Polly passed away peacefully at home on the 23rd of February after a long battle with multiple myloma. She was born on March 12th 1939 at Quantico, Virginia to Lt. (later Major General) John Hillary Masters USMC and Pauline Sullivan Masters. During WWII she and her mother lived with her grandparents in Anderson, South Carolina while her father served in the North Atlantic and China. She enjoyed summers at her grandparent's family retreat in Highlands, NC with cousins Charles(Peggy) and Joe(Sally) Major. As her father was transferred she attended the National Cathedral School in Washington DC, the Graham-Ekes School in Palm Beach, Florida, Fallbrook Union High School, California, where she was voted Homecoming Queen and Miss Fallbrook of 1957. She graduated from New York City's Tobe-Coburn School of Fashion and Design in 1959. Later In 1959 in Hawaii, she married 1stLt. Carter P. Swenson and began her 57 year tour as a Marine Corps wife. During numerous deployments anywhere from 12 to 15 months, she held the family together, prepared houses for sale, sold them and looked for the next place to live. During these times she raised their two children and a number of dogs. She also worked full time as a department store fashion coordinator, clothing salesperson and as a bank branch manager In Northern Virginia. A talented artist, she painted and sold many works of art in Virginia, Washington State, California and South Carolina. In 1989, several years after Carter's retirement from the Marine Corps, The family acquired their present home originally built by Polly's father. Polly immediately became involved in the Beaufort community. She was active in Saint Helena's Church as a Steven Minister and as a member of the Bereavement Committee. She was an active member of the Beaufort Art Association and a recent member of that organization's Board. She was also an avid tennis player, often being team captain in statewide tournaments. As an artist she started her own business, Polly Swenson's Studio, located over the home's garage. From there she produced many of her highly detailed award winning paintings of low country scenes featuring everything from shrimp boats and wildlife to marshes and seascapes. To make up for travel she missed while her father and husband were receiving all expense tours of exotic places, the couple began a series of ocean cruises. They visited Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, the Antilles and most of the European countries from Istanbul to St. Petersburg, once stopping in Ishmir, Turkey to replace the dining room rug. The last cruise was in December when they flew to Barcelona, boarded a ship and stopped at Cartagena, Malaga, Madeira, Bermuda, Nassau, back to Miami and home. Bucket List complete. She is survived by her husband, Col USMC(Ret) Carter Swenson of Beaufort, a daughter Pauline (Polly) Malmgren(Eric) of Fairfax Station, Virginia, a son, Carter P. Swenson, Jr.(Anne) of Fairfax, Virginia, her brother, 1stLt. John Hillary Masters, Jr. USMC(Ret)(Omea), Two granddaughters, Corrie H. Swenson and Elizabeth A. Swenson and a grandson, Eric Louis Malmgren. One cousin, Hillary Masters Lee(Wayne) resides in Bethesda, Maryland. She has many brothers and sisters - in-law and nieces and nephews due to her husband being one of 13 siblings. She also has numerous Sullivan and Masters relatives in the Anderson/Greenville SC and Highlands, NC area. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 2 pm at The Parish Church of Saint Helena. The family suggests memorials be made to The St. Helena Preservation Trust, Post Office Box 1043 Beaufort, SC 29901 or Friends of Caroline Hospice, 1110 13th Street, Port Royal, SC 29935.