Mary Ellen Seal, 86, of Halfway, died Jan. 28, 2008, at her home, surrounded by her family.
Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. There will be a graveside service afterward at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.
Ellen was born Nov. 18, 1921, at Hartville, Mo., to George and Verna Farris. She had eight brothers and sisters.
Ellen married Hobart Seal on Jan. 14, 1939, at Ava, Mo. Hobart and Ellen had three children and traveled across the country in search of work.
They moved to Baker County in 1946 and to Halfway in 1952. She worked for many years as a cook for the Pine-Eagle School District and was proud of her involvement in starting the Cub Scout program in Pine Valley.
Ellen worked hard in everything she did and particularly enjoyed her yard and garden, fishing, hunting, yard sales, her children and many grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her three children, son and daughter-in-law, Norman and Teena Seal, of Ontario, daughter, Linda Blank of Caldwell, Idaho, and son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Merrilyn Seal of Halfway; sisters, Ethel Goss of Sadler, Texas, Lucille Welch of Lebanon, Mo., and Betty Hilliard of Mansfield, Mo.; brother, Clarence Farris of Gentry, Ark.; 11 grandchildren, Cindy Wells, Terra Patton, Stacy Seal, Dan Smith, Kathy Stirm, Jim Smith, Travis Blank, Tracy Gabbard, Mari Moody, Bobby Seal and Teena Thomas; 30 great- and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hobart Seal; her parents, George and Verna Farris; and four brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Women’s Auxiliary, No. 7847, through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 1, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
