Thomas Seay

Thomas Stokes Seay, our beloved Papa, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Tom will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind, generous Southern gentleman who loved his Savior, his family, and his country. Born in Goochland County, Va., on Jan. 4, 1922. Tom joined the Army Air Corps at 17 and served his country during World War II. He was a B-17 pilot and was shot down over Germany. Tom spent 18 months in a German prisoner of war camp. He was a hero in the greatest sense of the word. At the end of the war, he returned to the states and graduated from the University of Virginia. He married Mary "Tee" Seay on June 19, 1948 and they shared 64 wonderful, blessed years together. Tom spent over 30 years in Knoxville, and raised his family there. He had a wonderful, successful, and respected career with Sears in upper management. After his retirement from Sears, he and his wife, Tee, moved to Chattanooga to be close to their grandchildren. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Hixson. Papa was a man of God and church was a major focus of his life. Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary "Tee"; his daughter, Kathy; his parents, Ernest and Mary Seay; and his siblings Kate, Lucy and Frazier. Papa is survived by his daughter, Bette and her husband, Hank, Chattanooga. He was grandfather to Thomas Boles, Chattanooga, Andrew Boles and his wife Valerie, Sevierville Tenn., Haley Williams and her husband, Tim, Mantua, NJ, Hannah Perry and her husband, Shane, Greenville, S.C. He was great-grandfather to Emmy, Addy, Lucy and Levi Williams, Mantua, NJ, and Brayden Boles, Sevierville, Tenn. Words cannot express how loved and cherished Papa was by his family. Papa spent the last eighteen months of his life at Clare Bridge Memory Care Facility in Cleveland, Tenn., and the family appreciates the kind care he was given, but he was blessed to have private caregivers from Amara Home Care. The family is thankful for each and every caregiver. Special thanks and gratitude to Patricia, Joanie, Lydia and Cora for compassionately caring for Papa and, more importantly, for loving him. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. today, Nov. 18, at Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel and 11 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The funeral service will be conducted at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the funeral home chapel with Tim Williams, Papas grandson-in-law officiating. Assisting Tim in the service will be Shane Perry, also Papas grandson-in-law and Darreyl Duggar and Brady Wood, pastors at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Interment to follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors. Memorial donations can be made in Tom's name to Alzheimer's Association, 7625 Hamilton Park Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421, or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 7634 Gann Road, Hixson, TN 37343. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com. Arrangements are by the Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory & Florist, North Chapel, Highway 153, Hixson, Tennessee 37343.