Aug. 18, 1918 – July 25, 2009
Seeley M. Phillips, DVM
Richmondville – Dr. Seely M. Phillips, DVM, 90, longtime Richmondville veterinarian, died Saturday, July 25th at his home in Howes Cave. Seeley was born August 18, 1918 is Succasunna, NJ, a son of John Harry and Flossie (Lynch) Phillips.
He graduated from Middletown High School, NYS School of Agriculture at Delhi in 1939, attended Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences, and graduated the NYS Veterinary College at Cornell University 1950. He moved to Richmondville after practicing with Dr. John Goebel in New City and began his practice serving farmers with food producing animals from 1951, until his retirement in 1989. Dr. Phillips was a pioneer in preventive medicine for dairy cattle. He presented papers on that subject at state and international meetings. He served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific medal with three battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for service in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1945.
He was a member of the Richmondville United Methodist Church, the AABP, AVMA, NYSVMS, and the Catskill Mountain Veterinary Medical Association, serving as President in 1964. He was a member of the Empire State Mastitis Council serving as its first President from 1979 to 1984, and was a Council Member for SUNY Cobleskill from 1954 to 1981 serving as Chairman from 1972 to 1981. He served on the Schoharie County Arts Council Board from 1978 to 1980, served on the Community Services Board from 1982 to 1990 and as Vice-Chairman from 1985 to 1990, and served on the Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension from 1982 to 1988, as Secretary from 1982 to 1984, and as President from 1985 to 1988. Seeley enjoyed gardening, making bread, and cooking.
Survivors include his wife, Mary K. (Mapes) Phillips, whom he married August 6, 1949; five children, Barbara R. (David) Phillips Long of Shiremanstown, PA, Carl H. Phillips (Barbara Morrill) of Waldwick, NJ, Thomas R. (Margaret) Phillips of E. Schodack, Doris E. (David) Leverett of Carlisle, and William E. (Lorene) Phillips of Denville, NJ; nine grandchildren, Alison and Owen Long, Andrew and Edward, Erica and Glenn Phillips, Beth, Timothy, and Phillip Leverett; five nieces and several grandnieces and nephews, and cousins.
Seeley was predecease by his sisters, Grace Moulton and Alice Lattimer.
A service to celebrate the life of Seeley M. Phillips, DVM, will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 2md at the Richmondville United Methodist Church with a visitation period from 12 noon to 2 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at the Saratoga National Cemetery on Monday, August 3rd at a time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dr. Phillps to Catskill Area Hospice, 795 E. Main St., Suite 11, Cobleskill, NY 12043, or to Richmondville United Methodist Church, with a memo marked “Nothing But Nets,” PO Box 8, Richmondville, NY 12149.
The Robert A. Guffin Funeral Home of Cobleskill and Langan Funeral Home of Schoharie and Central Bridge are assisting the family with arrangements.
Published in unknown and undated newspaper by Robert A. Guffin Funeral Home, 108 Chapel St., Cobleskill, 518-234-2525, sent to the Seeley Genealogical Society
[Great-great-grandson of SGS #3528 – Seeley McCombs Phillips; Flossie Lynch; Ira Henry Lynch; Phebe Jane Seeley; John (#3528); Amos/Ames (#1590); John; John; Samuel; Jonas; Obadiah]
