Mary T. Seeley

On Friday, August 28th, 2020, Mary Thomas Seeley, loving wife and mother of four passed away at the age of 81.

Mary was born on August 21, 1939 in the small farming town of Lovell, Wyoming. She was the second child of Reed and Helen Thomas with the darkest hair and the most olive complexion. She was one of four daughters and named after her Grandmother, Mary Thomas.

Her mother referred to her as a very talkative toddler who loved visiting with anyone and everyone. One day, while the family was traveling by train, Mary disappeared at the Depot and was found minutes later surrounded by a group of travelers who were amused by her.

When Mary’s older sister Ann was starting her first day of first grade, mom threw a little tantrum while dropping Ann off, wanting to stay in school herself. Ann’s teacher agreed to allow Mary to stay in school for a few days. Her mother knew then that Mary was going to be a “life-long learner.”

Mary’s high school years were full of accomplishments as she served on the Student Council and played the flute in the school band. She was an achiever. Her mother once described her as extremely social girl and she had a very nice group of friends. One day in particular, she asked her mother if she could take the car into town with all of her friends. When her mother replied “no,” she started up the tractor on their farm and with these friends on board, drove the tractor into town to have some fun.

Mary’s high school years in Lovell ended when her father, who lost his job at the Ohio Refinery moved the family to Billings, Montana. She would have to complete her senior year in a new city at a new school. Although Mary was very upset to leave her friends and begin a new school, she became class secretary, joined the band, made new friends and made the most of it.

Following High School, Mary attended Eastern Montana College. While attending Eastern, she played flute in the Billing’s symphony and sat first chair. After attending Eastern for a year, she and her older sister left for Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she played the flute in the concert band and traveled extensively with them.

 During Mary’s second year at the Y, she was asked to serve as the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement association President. Her counterpart for the Young Men, was a nice boy named Robert Seeley. They met and their courtship began. They were married on June 28, 1961 in the Logan, Utah temple. They enjoyed a fun honeymoon to Waterton Lakes, Alberta, Canada.

Mary had a great desire to know and understand things. She was as studious as they come. She was a true believer in “The Glory of God is Intelligence.” Her family moved from Corpus Christi, Texas to Lake Charlie La. in 1974 and when her youngest entered Kindergarten, she went back to school at McNeese State University. She finished her English degree that she had started at BYU and then went onto a Masters in Flute Performance.

Mary was a master flutist. In her home, growing up, her children often fell asleep at night being lullabied by her loud shrilling high notes as she practiced her flute in our kitchen where the acoustics were the best. The “tick tock” of the metronome or the tap of her foot to keep a beat could also be heard. Mary was so diligent with her flute practice. If she had a flute lesson or was preparing for a symphony performance, she was prepared and then some. She was truly talented and played in the Lake Charles, La. symphony and then in the Danbury Ct. symphony after moving to Connecticut. It was always a treat to attend the Nutcracker each Christmas and hear her play.

Her love of reading kept her eyes on great books. She especially loved reading books about the lives of the Presidents of the United States. She usually chose to read about the early Presidents up to the Roosevelts and every night could be found in bed, eating her favorite popsicles, no matter the time of year and enjoying a good, long read.

She was always a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as Relief Society President, counselor in the Young Women’s organization, Gospel Doctrine teacher and temple matron at the Manhattan, NY Temple.  She took great pride in her calling as ward or stake choir director. Her choirs were always prepared to sing praises that brought the spirit to any meeting. For years, at Christmastime, she helped to put on a marvelous concert, “A musical Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.” Mary put so much time and attention into the detail of whatever she organized and these concerts were always a huge success.

For many years, her husband was involved in Church assignments that kept him busy and took him away for meetings. She was truly a Saint and an amazing example to her children, of a wife who supported her husband 100%. They never once heard her complain but simply supported dad and kept things running at home in his absence.

From July 2002-July 2005, Mary and her husband Robert presided as Mission President over the Puebla, Mexico mission. Having studied German but not Spanish she quickly determined that she would need to learn a new language. She set herself up with tutors before leaving for Mexico and also after arriving. She didn’t want to feel the frustration of not being able to communicate with the good saints there. She loved and took care of their missionaries, often feeding them and caring for the sick in their home or visiting them in the hospital.

Mary was a wonderful mother to her children. She beautifully taught them to develop their talents and that our success requires effort. She taught them to better themselves by taking their education seriously, to serve and love in the home and in our church and in our community. They felt of her love always.

In the fall of 2019, Mary was diagnosed with lung cancer. She courageously faced her illness and was an example of faith to all she knew in both life and death. She passed so peacefully on August 28th, 2020 in the Yale New Haven hospital with family by her side.

Mary is survived by her husband, Robert T. Seeley and 3 living children; James (Linda) Seeley, Rusley Ann (Russell) Newbold and Alyson (William) Freedman, twelve grandchildren and 2 great. Her son Mark preceded her in death last year and we rejoice at the thought of their reunion on the other side.

A family funeral will be held this Saturday, September 5th at 11am at the chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 285 N. Matterhorn Drive, Alpine Utah. A viewing will be held from 10-10:45 am prior to the funeral service, Interment will take place at the Alpine City Cemetery.