Wednesday, November 24, 2004 -.
Wallace Seely, 92, played church organ 57 years
By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter
For 57 years, Wallace Seely was an institution at Queen Anne United Methodist Church, quietly perched behind the pipe organ or leading the choir in Sunday hymns.
Even after his retirement as church organist in 1988, Mr. Seely continued to fill in from time to time. Over his long life he played the organ in churches, schools and retirement homes all over Seattle.
"Music was the most important thing in his life. There was nothing he enjoyed more," said Nancy Thompson of Tenino, Thurston County, Mr. Seely's niece.
Mr. Seely died Nov. 12 at the age of 92 after a brief illness.
He was born in 1912 on Queen Anne Hill and remained a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, graduating from Queen Anne High School in 1931.
From a young age, Mr. Seely gravitated toward the arts, studying voice and piano. He earned a music degree from the University of Washington and taught music for 28 years in public schools before retiring in 1969. Among the places he taught were Auburn and Thurston County.
At the age of 18, Mr. Seely was hired for his first organist position, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, for a salary of $5 a week. He was the organist at Queen Anne United Methodist Church between 1931 and 1988 and served as the church choir director from 1940 to 1980. Mr. Seely also was the church janitor for several years.
Friends remember Mr. Seely appearing very serious — even stern — when he played. But they say he also displayed a gentle sense of humor.
Mr. Seely, who never married, took care of his mother for 25 years after his father's death in 1937.
As he got older, Mr. Seely worried that he might lose his playing skills, but those who heard him play say his talent never waned.
"When he retired, I used to tell him he should have stayed on," said Linda Clugston, who succeeded Mr. Seely as church organist. "He had a lot of good years and a lot of playing ability left."
Mr. Seely played publicly for the last time 10 days before his death, at a memorial service.
In recent years, Mr. Seely became interested in the efforts to restore an antique organ at Roosevelt High School. He was the youngest of three people to play the organ at its dedication ceremony in 1940.
The instrument had been installed as a memorial for V.K. Froula, Roosevelt's first principal, but fell into disrepair. With Roosevelt closed for renovations, volunteers hope to raise enough money to reinstall it when the school opens in 2006.
"He liked the organ and so when he heard this was coming up, of course he was quite interested," said Carl Dodrill, president of the Pipe Organ Foundation, a Mercer Island nonprofit group that restores old organs. Dodrill said Mr. Seely wrote him a personal letter about his interest in the project.
A member of the American Guild of Organists since 1930, Mr. Seely was dean of the group's local chapter from 1937-38.
Besides Thompson, Mr. Seely is survived by nephews Richard Seely of Ocean Shores and Don Seely of Olympia; and one great-nephew.
A memorial service will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Queen Anne United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the church or a favorite charity.
Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com
Wallace M. Seely
Wallace M. SEELY Age 92. Born in Seattle May 14, 1912, son of Loren H. Seely and Edna (Knapp) Seely. Died November 12, 2004. Graduate of Queen Anne High School and University of Washington. Organist at Queen Anne United Methodist Church for 57 years. Associate, American Guild of Organists. Memorial Service 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 27, at Queen Anne United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, rememberances may be made to QAUM Church or favorite charity.
Published in print on 11/21/2004.
SEELY, Wallace M; 92; Seattle WA; Seattle Times; 2004-11-21
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