Garold Elvin Seeley

Garold ‘Elvin’ Seeley passed away on October 10, 2021 at the age of 91 years. He was born in Leahy, Washington, on October 9, 1930, one hour and ten minutes after his twin brother, Harold Melvin Seeley. They were the eldest sons of Earnest & Sallie Seeley. Elvin grew up in the Baldhills area until 1942, when his family moved to the Victor Falls – Rhodes Lake area of Pierce County. He attended Alderton Grade School and Sumner High School. During his teen years, Elvin worked at the Van Vonavill Bulb Farm in Orting, the “cannery” in Sumner, Marco’s Candy of Tacoma, Northern Pacific Railroad yard on South Tacoma Way, and Northwest Metals in Kent.

Elvin suffered many hardships as a child, including polio, which proved to build in him a compassionate character toward all people.

It was also during his teens that Elvin developed his interest in auto mechanics. He traded his horse for a 1927 Model T that hadn’t run for five years. He had to borrow a horse to pull the car home.

In 1950, Elvin joined the Navy, serving in the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Toledo as a Gunners Mate. While on leave, six months before his honorable discharge, he married Ruth Hayden, whom he had met during his teen years and had been engaged to during his enlistment. They divorced in 1954 and had no children.

On October 21, 1955, Elvin married Maybell Badgley. In 1956, Elvin was hired by the Boeing Company where he spent 33 ½ years as a Tool Grinder. He and Maybell bought a home in 1957 where they had both grown up in the Victor Falls – Rhodes Lake area.

Elvin and Maybell had three children. Maybell passed in 1976. On April 2, 1977, he married Ethel McClure. They enjoyed 44 years of marriage together.

Elvin always expressed a genuine interest in his community, and actively worked for what he believed to be ‘right for everyone concerned’. As a member and former president of the Victor Falls – Rhodes Lake Community Club, he served on many community and county projects. Among his other interests was working on vehicles as the neighborhood mechanic, fishing, camping with his family, farming, and gardening.

Elvin was preceded in death by his twin brother Harold Melvin Seeley, brother Chester LeRoy Seeley, brother Cecil Lloyd Seeley, wife Maybell Seeley, and granddaughter Carrie Daher.

Elvin is survived by his wife Ethel Seeley; sister Florence Husa; daughter Joyce (Ray) Fike; son Steven (Hjordis) Seeley; son Alan (Jamie) Seeley; step-daughters Maree (Michael) Martin; Debbie (Jerry) Sutton; Cindy Donovan; Kathie McClure; step-sons Paul McClure; Mark (Teresa) McClure; Dan (Dawn) McClure; Matt McClure; 23 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held on Friday, October 29th, with a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/?form=legacy

Please leave online condolences at www.powersfuneralhome.com

Arrangements by Powers Funeral Home, 253-845-0536.