DENNYSVILLE - Roscoe "Lester' Seeley, 74, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and retired sheriff's deputy, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home, Saturday April 13, 2013, from complications with diabetes. Lester, a lifetime resident of Washington County was born May 4, 1938, in Jacksonville, son of the late Roscoe and Evelyn (Bryant) Seeley.
As a young child Lester lost both of his parents and moved to Edmunds where he was raised by his grandfather and grandmother. He stayed in Edmunds for the majority of his life and raised his family and ran Lester's Saw Mill from the same home where he was raised. Lester was a 1956 graduate of Dennysville High School. After graduating from high school Lester worked at Woodland Mill and Hallowell's Saw Mill before he joined the Washington County Sheriff's Department Feb. 14, 1968. He spent 45 years with the sheriff's department where he started his career as a patrol deputy and worked his way up to sheriff's deputy. Lester worked for Suffolk University in Edmunds during the summer for many years. He also volunteered his time in countless parades and walks helping to ensuring everyone's safety. Lester loved working in all facets of law enforcement. Before he retired Feb. 14, 2013, Lester was not only working as a sheriff's deputy but also as an animal control officer and a marine patrol warden. While working for the sheriff's department he also assisted many other law enforcement agencies including the Maine State Police and the Maine Warden Service. During his career Lester was honored with several awards recognizing his commitment to law enforcement including an award when he was a patrol deputy in 1979 "in appreciation for his loyal service." June 6, 1991, he was named "Honorary Captain of the Maine State Police" one of only two people in all of Washington County to ever receive this honor. On June 5, 2002, the Bureau of Marine Patrol awarded him a commendation for his "Distinguished achievement by demonstration of unusual initiative or skill and notably contributing towards the Bureau's Mission, the welfare of the fisheries and the betterment of the state of Maine." He also received an award of merit from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Before his passing, a retirement party was held April 7, where many of those he worked with throughout the years shared stories and honored a man who had given so much of his life to serving others. At that party the Washington County Sheriffs Department retired his number, 130. He really enjoyed that party and was able to see how well respected and loved he was, not only by his family and those he worked with but by everyone in his community. His family would like to thank all that attended that party as he talked about it often the week before his passing. Lester will be remembered for his love of family and his devotion to his community. He was never happier than when he was spending time with family and friends, playing rummikub with his companion June or responding to a call from dispatch.
Lester is survived by his loving family including his brothers, Kenneth Seeley and companion, Wilma, of Baileyville and Arthur Seeley; son, Thomas Seeley and wife, Linda, of Dennysville; daughters, Brenda Cox of Dennysville, Linda Preston and husband, Stephen, of Cooper, Cindy Cox and husband, Stephen, of Dennysville and Tammy McPhail and husband, Peter, of Perry; grandchildren, Mathew Seeley, Erin Griffin and husband, Shane, Melissa Small and husband, Shaun, Morgan Baker and husband, Rob, Eric Cox and partner, Jessica, Adam Cox, Mindy Smith and husband, Jason, Karla Frederick and husband, Ryan, Vanessa Ellington and husband, Westley, Brittany Cox, Brandon Cox and wife, Ashley, Jodi Cox and Kirby McPhail. He held a special place in his heart for all his great-grandchildren or the "bad ones" as he liked to refer to them, Johnny, Ashley, Kaden, Braelyn, Callie, Tori, Ethan, Kaci, Mackenzie, Mikah, Payten, Mason and Macie. He will also be missed by his extended family, Janine Gardiner, Alan Gardiner, Laurie Cline and family and Jodi and Larry Benner. He is predeceased by both his parents, Roscoe and Evelyn; son-in-law, Dennis Cox; sister-in-law, Jane Seeley; and his very special companion, June Gardiner. The family would like to offer a very special thank you to his granddaughters, Erin Griffin and Brittany Cox for taking such extraordinary care of him these last few weeks and for making it possible for him to stay at home.
A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Edmunds Consolidated School. In lieu of flowers, Lester's family asks that donations be sent to R. Lester Seeley Memorial Law Enforcement Scholarship, care of The First, 102 Washington St., P.O. Box F, Eastport, ME 04631. Condolences and memories may be shared with the Seeley family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.mcclurefamilyfuneral.com.
Published in BDN Maine on April 17, 2013
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