Eleanor J. Seelye

Publication

Deceased Name: Eleanor J. Seelye, 79, longtime Moscow resident

MOSCOW -- Longtime Moscow resident Eleanor J. Seelye died of causes related to age Saturday at Good Samaritan Village Nursing Center here.

She was 79.

She was born Dec. 22, 1920, in Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Frederick E. and Esther Seelig Geiser.

She grew up and attended school there.

In her late teens and early 20s, she skated competitively as a single and in couples in waltzing and won several awards. During high school, she was on the rifle team and won many awards.

After graduation in 1938 from North Side High School in Ft. Wayne, she attended International College, where she completed a secretarial course.

During World War II, she went to Newfoundland, where she worked with the American Red Cross assisting injured veterans.

Following the war, she returned to Indianapolis. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honorary.

She married Donald W. Seelye June 7, 1949, at Bloomington, Ind. They moved to South Bend, Ind., where he taught at the University of Notre Dame. Later, they moved to Moscow and he took a position at the University of Idaho.

She continued her education at UI and received a degree in art and architecture.

She loved the arts, gardening, gourmet cooking, sculpture, painting and pottery. She also enjoyed entertaining in her home.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan Seelye of Tekoa; a son, Todd Seelye of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1989.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Good Samaritan Village. The Rev. Joan Montagnes of the Unitarian Universalist Church will officiate. A reception will follow at the home of the deceased.

The family suggests memorials be contributions to the Latah County Humane Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow.

Published in the Lewiston Morning Tribune (ID) on January 11, 2000