SEELY Olin Thomas "Pop" Seely, 95, of Columbus, OH, died peacefully at Willow Brook Christian Home, December 18, 2010 with family at his side. Born in Donie, TX to Edward Hansel Seely and Stevie Jessie Sandifer Seely, Mr. Seely grew up in Mexia, TX. He was preceded in death by his wife Linnie Hight Seely, and his brothers Omar Claxton Seely and Oral Edward Seely. He is survived by his daughter, Elaine Seely McClung and her husband, Steve of Powell, OH; and his son, William Hight Seely of Minneapolis, MN. Three grandchildren are David McClung and his wife, Michelle of Keller, TX, Karen McClung Mittendorf and her husband, Brian of Powell, OH and Julie McClung Beck and her husband, Matthew of Lexington, KY. Six great-grandchildren are Jack McClung, Abby Mittendorf, William McClung, Sadie Mittendorf, Thomas Beck, and Anne Beck. Mr. Seely is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He earned a degree in Business Administration from Kilgore Junior College. He later earned a B.A. in Government and Law from Texas Christian University and a LLB degree from the North Texas State School of Law. Mr. Seely passed the Texas Bar Exam on his first try and was a member of the Texas Bar Association for the remainder of his life. As a result of his law degree, the nickname "Judge" followed Mr. Seely the rest of his working life. Most of his college credit was earned in night courses after his daily work.
On March 4, 1944, he married Linnie May Hight, also of Mexia, TX. They were married for 41 years.
In 1936, Mr. Seely was hired by the US Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service as a Junior Clerk Typist in Fort Worth, TX. He moved up the career ladder in the Soil Conservation Service, and in 1954, he was transferred to the SCS Louisiana State Office in Alexandria, LA where he served as State Administrative Officer. Mr. Seely was honored with the US Department of Agriculture's Superior Service Award in 1970. Presented at the department's Washington, DC headquarters by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Superior Service Award was an annual recognition of eleven of the department's 16,000 employees. He was with the SCS 37 years.
After retirement in 1974, Mr. Seely returned to university life and earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He then served as an Adjunct Professor in Business at Louisiana State University Alexandria and Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, LA). A long time resident of Alexandria, LA, Mr. Seely moved to Columbus, OH to be near Elaine in 1999. He lived at The Trillium and later at Willow Brook Nursing Home.
During their years in Alexandria, LA, the Seelys were very active members of Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Seely served as a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, and Chairman of the Deacons. Mr. Seely loved being with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and he maintained a regular, written correspondence with them as long as he was able. Interests included travel, gardening, reading, the arts, PBS documentaries, and following the ups and downs of the stock market. He was an LSU Tiger football fan but, after moving to Columbus, also developed a keen interest in the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a lifelong learner and avidly sought new experiences. As a boy in Mexia, he taught himself to swim using his Boy Scout Manual. Later on as an adult, he taught himself German and French to complement the Spanish he learned in school. Mr. Seely was adept at memorizing poetry, speeches, and Bible verses, and he retained these throughout his life. He and Linnie traveled widely in the U.S.A. but some of their best memories were their trips to Europe. He later traveled by himself with the Elderhostel Organization to England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Spain.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, December 29 at HIXSON BROTHER FUNERAL HOME in Pineville with a service to follow at 11 a.m., also at Hixson Brothers, Pineville. Officiating will be Rev. David Boothe, retired and formerly on the pastoral staff at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, the Seely's home church. Internment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pineville. The family would like to express very special appreciation to the staff of Willow Brook Christian Home, 55 Lazelle Rd., Columbus, OH 43235 and to HomeReach Hospice, 3595 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Willow Brook and HomeReach Hospice.
Published in The Columbus Dispatch on December 23, 2010
|
