of Hot Springs, AR

June 6, 1928 - September 23, 2023

Vivian Joyce Browning "Polly" Moreland went to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 34 happy years, James Edward "Jim or Jimmy" Moreland. Polly was born in Natural Steps, AR on June 6th, 1928 to Burt and Lavada Browning, who, along with 3 older brothers and one sister preceded her in death. She is survived by two children, a son, Roger Moreland (wife, Cynthia) of Hot Springs; a daughter, Corby (husband, Don) of Benton; two grandchildren; a granddaughter, Mischa Brandon (husband, Prince) of Hot Springs and grandson, Bryce Carlton (fiance, Carrie Gelencir) of Saint Louis and three great grandchildren, Mary, Anna and Asher Brandon of Hot Springs.
Polly was a spunky and precocious child, outnumbered and having to scrap with her brothers-once chasing her closest, Guy, with an ice pick, after he'd picked on her. But she normally cared about people and their health, a proclivity which led her to, after graduating high school at sixteen, becoming a Registered Nurse at nineteen (even nursing the victims of the Great Judsonia Tornado of '52). She met Jimmy, the Love of her Life, on a blind date arranged by an older cousin, married him and eventually ended up in Hot Springs, where the couple would raise their two kids. Born Baptist, she transitioned to Methodist and taught her children's Sunday School classes. "Miss Polly" being a favorite with all the little ones learning Bible stories. She served as PTA President and Vice President and was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She took Lifeguard classes, eventually putting her skills into practice one afternoon at a Midwestern motel, when she, singlehandedly, pulled a drowning boy from the water and resuscitated him. She was forever a proper and genteel Southern lady, loving the sight of Crepe Myrtle and the smell of Gardenia; she was an accomplished artist in oils, ink and watercolors and produced many paintings which her family treasure. She was a baker of exquisite breads, keeping a live starter yeast in her fridge for many, many years and could make a pot roast that no other human hands (we know of) have ever come close to replicating.
Polly was kind, charitable and virtuous, though not above doing the occasional drive-by on West Mountain to pilfer wild violets in the Spring. She taught her two children to judge people by their character, rather than race, religion or cut of clothes. We will miss her dearly, but know she waits for us with Jesus in a place far above pain and earthly suffering.
The family would like to say a Special Thanks to Dr. Barton Parish and staff of Hot Springs for attending to her every need these past years. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the staffs of Mount Carmel Community and Pleasant Hill Senior Services of Benton, as well as Gentiva Hospice Care, for making her declining days as pleasant and comfortable as they could be.
A small service for family and close friends will be held at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Pulaski County on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks any memorials made be sent to Hot Springs Public Schools Education Foundation (P.O. Box 21182 Hot Springs, Ar. 71903).

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