ERNEST MARVIN SEELYE (1922 - 2012)
Ernest Marvin Seelye went home to Heaven on February 27, 2012.
He was born to Frank Crandall Seelye and Alfa Bonsil Corcoran, November 9, 1922 on Lummi Island, WA.
Ernie has always held a special memory in his heart for his Grandmother Corcoran who delivered him and indicated "this one is too scrawny to raise".
At age 89 he passed away at home in Mount Vernon with the loving support of family, friends, Hospice, and Marion, his wife of 67 years.
Ernie attended school on Lummi Island until he was 14. His family then moved to Kendall where he attended Mt. Baker High School.
His job as a commercial fisherman was interrupted by WWII in which Ernie served in the Marine Corp in the 2nd Marine Division and saw heavy frontline action in the battles of Tulagi/Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian. Near the end of WWII Ernie and Marion were married in Bellingham, WA and spent their first year together at Camp Pendleton, CA.
They returned to start a farm along the Nooksack River at Maple Falls. The first of 5 children, Dan (Chris Quant) of Port Orchard, was born in 1946 followed by Frank (Barbara Sheets) of Clovis, CA, Steve (Margret Bengen) of Bellingham, Barbara (Rob) Hylton of Anacortes, and Chris (Gloria Lorenzo) of Mukilteo. In 1952 the family moved into "town" at Maple Falls where the front porch of the house was the post office.
Ernie spent 5 years working at the Clausen limestone quarry near Silverlake, and then spent the remainder of his career logging. Many years were with George Impero. In 1964 the family moved to Manchester, WA. where Ernie logged for Hart Brothers and also Talmo Logging. He enjoyed remodeling their beach home and launching his aluminum boat off the bulk head to fish for black-mouth salmon.
For their very active retirement years Ernie and Marion built a house on Hood Canal at Brinnon. Ernie served on the Brinnon School Board, and the Brinnon Community Church Board. He became an EMT and volunteered with the local fire department. Ernie was a Hospice volunteer for eleven years and was helpful to many of their church family with home repairs.
Mount Vernon became their home in 2001 where they became active with the Burlington Christian Alliance Church and Ernie was again a board member. Ernie continued his habit of major remodeling projects and planted a huge garden, from which he shared produce with family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Marion, and children, Ernie is survived by grandchildren: Connie Webster, Carolyn (Mark) Starman, Les Seelye (Connie Lem), Katharine (Jason) Zasa, and Alexis Cammack. His great-grandchildren include Amanda and Connor Webster, Grant Seelye, and Madeline Zasa. There are also numerous special nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held March 10th at 12:40 P.M. at the Lummi Island Congregational Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Love INC. of Skagit County.
Local arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on March 6, 2012
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