Obituary: Seely, Raymond Charles

SEELY, Raymond Charles Raymond was surrounded by his family at home when he passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus, after a long courageous battle with cancer, on October 29, 2014.

Raymond was born March 12, 1942 in Billings, MT, to Arthur and Betty Seely.

He grew up in Spokane and graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1960.

In college, Raymond met the love of his life, Luella Marie Johnson, and they wed on February 3, 1962 in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

They shared 52 adventurous, loving years together, raising five children in the process.

Major Raymond Seely spent 12 active duty years in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam Veteran serving two tours as a helicopter pilot.

He returned home to Spokane to raise his family a mile from where he grew up leading to five more Shadle Park graduates.

Raymond spent 28 years working at Kaiser Aluminum until retiring in 2001.

During his retirement, he spent his leisure time working on model airplanes and fishing.

Raymond especially loved hanging out at Clear Lake teaching all 13 of his grandchildren how to fish.

He was active in the Knights of Columbus and presided as the president of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Raymond is survived by is wife Luella, brother Richard (Kathy) Seely, sister Maryjane (John) Coble, son Raymond (Lisa) Seely, daughter Robin (Dave) Marshall, daughter Rosemarie (Mike) Baker, son Robert Seely, son Ronald (Michelle) Seely, 13 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014, 12:00 p.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on 304 S. Adams, Spokane Valley, WA., with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall, and a graveside burial will be held Tuesday, November 4, 2014, 11:00 a.m., at Washington State Veterans Cemetery on 21702 W. Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Vietnam Veterans of America (vva.org)