Query Number: 1405-2 May 2014
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Requested Information:
An obituary for Dorothy Seeley mentioned her husband Lawrence Eugene Seeley. Chris found Lawrence in the SSDI (Soc. Sec. Death Index)
– Lawrence E. Seeley
– SSN: 714-18-3835
– Last Residence: 42754 Leitchfield, Grayson, KY, USA
– Born: 22 Dec 1926
– Died: 2 Sep 2001
– State (Year) SSN issued: Railroad Board (Issued through) (1951-1963)
That led Chris to the 1930 census and a cemetery record:
1930 Census Noble, Wabash, IN
– Seeley, Walter A, head, age 38, age at first marriage 23, b. IA, IA, IA, laborer farm
– Seeley, Ethel M, wife, age 35, age at first marriage 19, b. IN, MD, IN
– Clark, Eileen E, stepdaughter, age 15; Oscar C, stepson, age 12; Elsie M, stepdaughter, age 9; all born IN, IN, IN; Seeley, Clara L, daughter age 5; Lawrence E, son, age 3 yrs, 3 mos; both born IN, IA, IN
From Findagrave.com
– William Alvin Seeley
– Birth: 1891, IA
– Died: 1937
– Pvt in US Army WWI
– Spouse: Ethel Marie Shanafelt Clark Seeley (1894-1968)
– Children: Clara L Seeley Heath (1924-2004)
– Burial: Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester, Wabash, IN
– Plot: Section 1
– Findagrave Memorial #46918522.
Chris also found an obituary for Lawrence’s sister: Heath, Clara L.
Oct. 3, 2004—North Manchester, IN CLARA L. HEATH, 79, of North Manchester, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. Survivors include her husband, Lyle A.; three sons, Barry (Susan) of Bonita Springs, Fla., Greg (Karen) of Litchfield, Minn.; Scott (Deb) of New Haven; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by DeLaughter-McKee Mortuary, North Manchester Chapel. www.delaughtermckee.com. Published in The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN), Oct. 6, 2004.
The question is whether Lawrence and Clara’s father is named Walter A. or William Alvin.
Requester: Chris Havnar
Initial Response Information:
I found the following obituary:
“Lawrence Eugene Seeley, 74, of Leitchfield (KY) died on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001, at the Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center. He was born Dec. 23, 1926, in North Manchester, Indiana, as the son of Walter and Ethel Shanafelt Seeley.
“He was a World War II Army Veteran, a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, former plant manager for Tell City Chair Leitchfield Plant, and was a driver of Communicare’s TAC van in Grayson County.
“He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy Smith Seeley; two sons, Michael Seeley of Portland, Oregon, and Steven Seeley of Jackson, Mississippi; two daughters, Karen Mart of Mason, Ohio, and Cheryl Logsdon of Leitchfield; one sister, Clara Heath of North Manchester, Indiana; six grandchildren, Shaun, Craig, Bryan, and Elissa Logsdon, Tracey Mart, and Andrey Seeley; and one great-grandchild, Bailey Logsdon. Watson and Hunt Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements.” (Grayson Co., KY) News Gazette, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001, p. 4.
I also found a longer obituary for Clara:
“Clara L. Heath, 79, North Manchester, IN, died on Sunday, October 3, 2004, at 5:26 PM at Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester, IN. She was born on Dec. 29, 1924, in North Manchester, IN, to William and Ethel (Shenefelt) Seeley. She married Lyle A Heath on January 26, 1944; he survives.
“She was a member of United Methodist Church in North Manchester, IN, and was a 50-year member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority #1609 in North Manchester. She graduated from Central High School in North Manchester in 1942.
“She is survived by three sons, Barry (Susan) Heath, Bonita Springs, FL, Greg (Karen) Heath, Litchfield, MN, and Scott (Deb) Heath, New Haven, IN; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.
“Services were held at DeLaughter-McKee Mortuary, North Manchester Chapel on Wednesday October 6, 2004 with Pastor Fred Bishop officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester, IN.
“Memorials are to Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, 507 W. Main St., North Manchester, IN 46962.” North Manchester (IN) News, Wednesday, October 6, 2004, p. 4A.
1940 census North Manchester, Wabash, IN
– Seeley, Ethel, age 46, widow, b. IN
– Seeley, Clara, age 15; Lawrence, age 13; Billie Jay, age 2; all b. IN
I have not been able to find any military record, marriage record, death record, or obituary for either Walter or William Seeley. I tried to contact the genealogy section of the Wabash Co., IN, library but have not received a response. Any advice someone can offer will be most appreciated.
Responder: Query Editor
