Obituary of Claude D. Seeley

Claude D. Seeley, Jr., age 88, of Tafton, died Monday, October 20, 2014, at home. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Lillian Woliski Seeley, in 2007. Born June 15, 1926, in Tafton, he was the son of the late Claude D. Sr. and Josephine (Bea) Seeley. He was a graduate of Hawley High School. During World War II, he served in the Navy and was stationed on the USS Barr in the South Pacific in 1944. He spent many years in the gas industry, finally retiring as manager for Amerigas in Honesdale. Deciding retirement wasn't for him, he went to work part-time for Highhouse Oil, Mobile Mart, Tafton. In addition, he was also an owner of Seeley's Landing, Inc., the oldest business on Lake Wallenpaupack. Claude was a Charter Member of the Tafton Fire Company where he was fire chief from 1949 until 1980. He was proud of the fact that his family had donated the land where the Tafton Firehouse still stands today. In 2012, Claude was honored to be presented with a Lifetime Service Award, the first of its kind, for "a lifetime of dedicated service" to the Tafton Fire Company. In addition to all his other fire company activities, he also spent many years volunteering to do set up work for the Paupack Boy Scout Troop at the fire house. He had formerly been a member of the Pike County Industrial Authority. Claude was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. No matter what was happening in his life, his family always came first. He is survived by two daughters: Mary Jo Hunt and her husband Phil of Hawley and Susan Seeley-Lee of Tafton; five grandsons: Jason Hunt of Tafton, Jonathan Schock and his wife Connie of Hawley, Alexander Schock of Tafton, Devon Shock and his companion Jeannine Fetherman of Tafton, and James Lee of Tafton, PA; one granddaughter: Jennifer Schock of Hawley; eleven great grandchildren: Brianna, Gryphonn, Waylon, Xander, Xathan, Xaiden, Xeilyn, Xavery, Destiny, Lillian and Jocelyn; his brother and sister-in-law: Donald and Bertha Seeley of Tafton; and four sisters-in-law: Joan Savage, Shirley Meling, Pauline Meinzer and Jennie Woliski. He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard, and a sister, Beulah. Calling hours will be Wednesday, October 22, from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at Teeters' East Chapel, 505 Church St, Hawley, PA. The funeral is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 23, at a time to be determined. Private cremation will be held at Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tafton Fire & Rescue, PO Box 5, Tafton, PA 18464. The Seeley family would like to extend a special thank you to Laurie Ann Bradley and his gramddaughter, Jennifer Schock, for their kindness, compassion, and loving care during Claude's illness. Finally, Claude would like to say to all who knew and loved him, "Be good."