Virginia Dare Sealey (born Mills)
Personal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: May 11, 1924
Date of Death: May 20, 2017
Birth Place: West Columbia, TX
Death Place: Gainesville, FL
Virginia M. Sealey
Virginia Dare Mills Sealey passed away on May 20, 2017, in Gainesville, Florida. She and her husband, Leon Sealey, longtime residents of Schenectady, recently moved to Florida, for health reasons. Virginia was hospitalized for a large, intracerebral bleed, after falling out of bed, on the night of her 93rd birthday. She was not a candidate for surgery, due to advanced age and medical outlook; hence, she was transported to Gainesville’s Haven Hospice, for end-of-life care. Virginia was born on May 11, 1924, in West Columbia, Texas, to parents Rex Clifford Mills and Nora M. Templen. Virginia graduated from West Columbia High School, married, and had a son, Lawrence Remi Herbert (deceased-USMC veteran). She outlived her younger sister, Edna, and two older brothers, David and Peter. Virginia was a devoted wife to husband, Leon Edward Sealey. Originally married on January 29, 1966, in Lake George, NY, Virginia and Leon, lived at the same Rotterdam residence for over 51 years. Virginia retired from General Electric (Schenectady), after working many years in the Chemistry Department, under supervisor Mr. Johnston. Upon retirement, Virginia pursued her passion for painting, becoming an accomplished artist. She enjoyed painting landscapes in oil and pastels. Virginia and Leon enjoyed making craft items (birdhouses, holiday décor, etc.) together for fun and profit. Virginia’s craft items and paintings often won first prize, in craft shows throughout the Northeast. Virginia also loved flowers and gardening, and had a year-round greenhouse constructed to her desires and specifications, in back of the home. Virginia will be remembered and missed by her family and friends; her paintings and crafts remain as a reminder of her love of nature. She is survived by her husband Leon (now residing in Gainesville); stepdaughter, Cynthia Grayson (Alachua, FL); and niece, JoAnn Hall Johnson (Groeseck, TX). She will be cremated in Florida and interred in Memory Gardens, in Albany, NY. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home (Gainesville, FL).
Published in The Daily Gazette on May 26, 2017
