Thelma J. Seago

Thelma Juanita Seago, 95, of Yakima, passed away in the loving arms of her three living daughters at home on Wednesday, May 12th and with the memory of a fourth daughter, Leanne, lost to cancer in 1968. She had lived in Yakima, Washington since 1946 and raised her daughters in Terrace Heights. Thelma worked for the Yakima Bindery, taught business classes at Yakima Business College and was a lifetime member of The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now renamed Community of Christ Church in both Yakima and Selah, Washington. Thelma was an accomplished pianist, singer and trombonist who played with the Oklahoma State University Orchestra and was a member of Yakima’s Bel Canto chorale. She also was a lifetime organist and pianist for her church and passed her passion for music and the arts on to her four daughters.

Thelma graduated with a BA in Spanish Literature from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma where she met and married Alfred Carl Seago in 1937. Her oldest daughter, Janet, was born in 1940. In the early 1940s, the couple moved to and lived in Sunnyvale, California prior to making their home in Yakima. In 1949, Thelma and Carl designed and built their family home in Terrace Heights. Borrowing styles from Frank Lloyd Wright and Bauhaus, they added innovations such as radiant heating and passive solar.

Thelma was the only daughter of Lee Roy Henderson and Pearl Patience Kitchen Henderson. Thelma personally cared for her mother for 11 years following a stroke. In 1984, her husband, Carl, died in her arms following a bout with cancer.

Thelma is survived by daughters, Janet Seago (Tony McManus) of Yakima, Sidnie Ellis (Michael Ellis) of Bremerton and Lauri Burrier (Dan Burrier) of Venice, California. Eight grandchildren, including David, Dennis and Devery Lee and Melanie Appleby; Tanya Davis Schulte; Simon and David Shaffer; and Nicolas Carl Burrier; eleven great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend heart-felt thanks to Thelma’s wonderful caregiver, Pauline Pestana and her husband, Michael. Their loving care gave Thelma a peaceful end of life. Thanks also go to Memorial Hospice for the support they gave in the final days.

A Celebration of life is being planned for 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Jan and Tony McManus home.

Arrangements under the direction of Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.