February 24, 1933 - February 2, 2025
Jim was born in Plainview, Texas on February 24, 1933. As a toddler, he moved with his family to Colorado and at the age of 8, they moved to the Strathmore, California area and settled there.
He graduated from Strathmore High School and attended the College of the Sequioas before joining the US Army where he served for a few years including time in Germany. When he returned to the US, he finished his double major in math and chemistry at Fresno State College.
Shortly thereafter, Jim started his teaching career at Kerman High School where he taught math, chemistry, and physics for 35 years. While there, he met and married Janet Roup. The two set up residence in Kerman where they raised their three children. The couple also spent a year in Philadelphia where Jim earned his Master’s Degree in physics at Temple University.
Jim and Janet enjoyed traveling, gardening, and bird watching; Jim also loved technology, gadgets, and photography. He was an active member of St. Patrick’s in Kerman, the California Native Plant Society, Sons in Retirement (SIRs Branch 159), the California Retired Teachers Association, and the Kerman Historical Society.
He was preceded in death by his wife Janet, parents Ernest and Beatrice McCarty Seay, his brother Bob Seay, and Sister Vera Mae Plumlee. He will be missed by his loving family, sons Jeff and Greg (Tess), daughter Mary Anne (Kim), and granddaughters Eva (Ofelia) and Hallie Seay. He is also survived by his sister Neoma Glazebrook (Bob), brother Lester Seay (Marybeth), and many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and former students.
A Funeral Mass for Jim will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 15437 West Kearney Boulevard, Kerman, California at 11:00 am on Friday, February 14, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the charity of your choosing.
