OBITUARY

Robert Joseph Benjamin Seeley

August 31, 1928 – January 31, 2021

Robert “Bob” Joseph Benjamin Seeley, 92, peacefully passed away during the early morning hours of January 31, 2021. Born August 31, 1928 in San Francisco of Dr. Leslie Seeley and Mary “Alicia” (nee Benjamin) Seeley, Bob graduated from Whittier High School in Whittier, California, in 1946.

After attending the former College of the Pacific in Stockton, Bob married Jeanne M. Harmeling and raised five children. Their time together spanned nearly 53 years until Jeanne’s untimely passing.

While living in San Diego, Bob welded at Convair and worked in heavy construction, building roads and preparing sites such as Fashion Valley shopping center. He was a fabricator for the SeaBees at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, California, and later at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. He retired from Civil Service after time with Bonneville Power in Wenatchee, Washington, and North Bend-Coos Bay, Oregon.

In 2005 he found love again after returning to Bremerton, Washington, where he met and married Anona Parker Huskinson, the mother of six grown children. Bob and Anona enjoyed dancing together and spent many fun-filled hours on the dance floor. Love, humor, and a welcoming atmosphere has been a constant presence at their table.

Bob felt most at home out in the shop building sand buggies and the like. He even hand-carved heavy-duty sand paddles from big meat tires and took his family to the dunes in Glamis, Buttercup, Santa Maria and Pismo Beach, California. Assisting the birth of two daughters at home earned him the nickname “Doc,” which he wore emblazoned on his leather welding bib for years. Known for his zest for living, he made a lot of people smile.

Bob is survived by his lovely wife Anona, as well as his son Robert “Rob” Seeley and daughters Carol Seeley, Charlotte DeSavigny, Kathleen Haynes, and Janet Rimmer. And on Anona’s side are sons Don Huskinson, David Huskinson, and Duane Huskinson and daughters Connie Kincaid and Tammy Huskinson. Sadly, the passing of daughter Celena Milne preceded that of Bob.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, two of whom are local: Stephen Terra and Kathleen Terra. Preceding Bob were his grandson Robert Dailey, his sister Elin Terra, and his brother Jon Seeley by five years to the day. Cremation provider is Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home of Bremerton. A private celebration of Bob’s cheerful life will take place at a later date. He is dearly missed and is forever loved by many.

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Robert Joseph Benjamin Seeley

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Elizabeth Goforth

February 28, 2021

Love you forever, Grandpa❤️

Photo from November 19, 2003 in Port Orchard, WA.

Charlotte DeSavigny

February 28, 2021

Dad was loving and kind to us. This is truly amazing since his early life was wrought by an abusive father. He broke that cycle when he chose to be kind and loving to everyone. Thank you Dad❤️

Dad taught me to drive in one of his dune buggy's. In the process, I drove over the top of a dune and down into a steep bowl. He asked me if I wanted to become the passenger or just exit. I said I’ll exit it will be less weight. He worked very hard for a long time circling around the bowl fighting gravity before he was able to get it back on top of the dune. After Dad caught his breath, He instructed me on how to avoid that situation for future use. Dad asked me if I would like to drive some more. How wonderful!

Many memories but I will just say one more. Dad loved having individual times with each of his five children, in the garage. We all have memories. Mine is, when I handed him a tool I named it Rajitater. Throughout his life he would look me in the eye, smile and remind me of that special time.
💗 Love you much 💗

Kathleen Haynes

February 28, 2021

So much love and eternal thanks to you, Daddy, for all you have given us. Your loving support, advice and optimism has helped us lead productive and happy lives. You encouraged us to find the good in others, and to always do our best with conviction and flair, whatever the task. Daddy's flair came through when sharing his viewpoint, jokes or stories, told with enthusiasm and compassion. We will celebrate you, Daddy, for the rest of our lives. Love, Kathleen (Kitty)

Janet Rimmer

February 27, 2021

Here we are! Taken many years ago. All of us miss our dad. He was a good man and father.

Alexandria Carey

February 26, 2021

My favorite memory of Grandpa Bob is playing with ATVs in sand dunes. I thought "he is the coolest grandpa in the world!" He is truly missed.

Alicia DeValliere (nee Seeley)

February 23, 2021

Dear Cousins and extended family and friends:

When I look at pictures of Bob, I see my son, Charlie's face. My Dad, Jon Seeley, is in some of the pictures as well and the resemblance is even closer.

Dune buggies? Dad too. Airplanes? Dad too. Two brothers, many shared passions.

Thank you for putting this together.

Love,
Alicia M. DeValliere

Anne Lopez-Gallego

February 21, 2021

My brother in law, Bob, was a wonderful happy outgoing person who always took the time to help anyone in need: he was very generous with his time and always went the extra mile. He was a very loving father and husband to my older sister Jeanne. When they were dating he would arrive and take my younger sister Karla and I for a ride in his model -T Ford. We thought it was great if we could sit in the rumble seat! Sometimes he’d take us out to his ranch out on Jack Tone Rd / named after his grandfather who belonged to this CA pioneer family. There we would visit his school teacher mother, Alicia and her spinster sister, Theodosia (Doso) who worked at the beautiful stately courthouse in Stockton. She was also an artist. We loved exploring the ranch and wd visit a cousin who raised Arabian horses nearby. Karla and I were bridesmaids in their wedding. Bob loved cars and made several on his own. He also tried his hand at inventing. He was a hard worker and always kept busy with projects. But most of all I will remember him as a model Christian who loved God above all things and loved his neighbor as himself Our loss will be heavens gain. May he Rest In Peace in the arms of God.

carol seeley

February 19, 2021

Our dad loved living. He and Mom passed that love on to us five children. Dad enjoyed building, creating things, especially sand buggies. We hit the dunes up and down the coast from Coos Bay to Ensenada.

Anything mechanical got his undying attention. During our 2008 visit to Seattle's Museum of Flight, he could still recite the firing order of a vintage Mercedes airplane engine used during World War II.

When I was going through a phase of teenaged melancholy, Dad held me on his lap as I cried my heart out, wondering about the future. You know, the regular kid stuff, though the catalyst was the Moody Blues record playing their beautiful song, "Watching and Waiting." He let me know everything was going to be all right.

Thank you, Daddy.
I love you.

Carol "Curly"

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and Jeanne 1975

FROM THE FAMILY
FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and Jeanne 1975

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and Anona 2010

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and grandson Ben in 2005

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and granddaughter Sarah in 1996

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and Anona in 2006

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob and daughter Carol in 2003

FROM THE FAMILY

Bob with Jeanne, and Karla, Anne, and Jon

FROM THE FAMILY

Dad- installing concrete ramp

FROM THE FAMILY

Dad & daughter Charlotte