SFC (RET) James Walter Seay was born April 3, 1928 to Fred Hilliard and Lila James Seay in Griffin, GA.
A member of the Silent Generation, the oldest of 4 children, Jim finished the sixth grade and went to work for the WPA on airports and highways with his father. Growing up during the Great Depression gave him experience in everything from working in fields to working in factories to running untaxed liquor in North Georgia. He joined the Navy in 1945, going to Shantou, China at age 17; later he served as the hospital cook at the Naval Hospital in the Aleutian Islands. He joined the US Army and served for 27 years, including Indochina and Viet Nam. During his Army career, he earned his GED and had a TS clearance.
In Germany, he met the love of his life, Gerda Ruth Olbrich, and brought her back to the US with him. They bought a home in Clarksville in 1963 and raised their 6 girls there, with gardens and yard work, cookouts and dog baths. When he came back from Viet Nam, he took his bonus and brought a bike for each child. He was always responsible and made sure his family had a home and there was food on the table. After retirement, he started a successful fishing worm business and took up golf, walking, and pugs. He talked often of seeing the world and his adventures as a country boy from Georgia. Jim was a very determined man who achieved success by his own efforts, starting from very difficult circumstances and without help from anyone.
Jim passed away on December 13, 2021 at age 93, at home with his loving family by his side, from complications from dementia.
James is preceded in death by his parents; siblings Clarence, Clara, and Eula; and daughter Debbie. He is survived by his wife of 64 years and 1 month, Gerda Olbrich Seay; daughters Margaret Stricklin, Kathy Lewis, Patsy Seay Dollar, Georgia (Rusty) Horn, Jaymie Seay, and Nancy Seay; along with a host of grandchildren; and great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, December 17, at 12:00 PM, at Christ Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday, December 17, from 11:00 AM until the hour of service, at the church. His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 2425 Kirkwood Road, Clarksville, TN 37043.
Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 645-6488.