PARSONS – Walter E. Seeley, 76, of Parsons, died at 8:05 a.m. Thursday, February 17, 2000, at the Labette County Medical Center. He entered the medical center Wednesday and had been in failing health for the past year.
He was born January 25, 1924, at Parson, to Walter E. and Mary Barnes Seeley. He was a 1942 graduate of Parsons High School. He graduated from Parsons Junior College in 1946. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a degree in accounting in 1949. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the AACS Squadron. He served in the China Offensive, Central Burma and India. He received three Bronze Stars and was discharged September 17, 1946.
He married Betty Dessenberger. They were the parents of two sons. He married Betty J. Watson on October 24, 1963, at Parsons.
Mr. Seeley worked with his father in the areas of insurance, real estate and loan business from 1949 to 1955. He purchased the business from his father in 1955 and operated it until 1962, when his company merged with the Bill Dearth Insurance, Inc. Agency. He purchased the majority interest in the business in 1980, becoming president of Bill Dearth Insurance, Inc. In June of 1985, he sold the majority interest to Keith Maloney and became an employee of Maloney-Hardman Insurance and Real Estate. He retired in January of 1989 and worked part-time for Maloney Insurance, Inc. from 1989 to 1999.
He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M. He also was a member of the Parsons R.A.M. No. 39, the Independence R. and S.M. Council No. 15, the Fort Scott Consistory and the Mirza Shrine at Pittsburg. He was a member of the Parsons Kiwanis Club for more than 20 years, serving as treasurer. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 56 and a life member of the Brown-Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 704.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Dr. Michael P. Seeley of Fort Worth, Texas, and Mark D. Seeley of Parsons; and a brother, Donald G. Seeley of Parsons.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. today at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with Dr. J.C. Kelley Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery.
Web Published Saturday, February 19, 2000
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