On Sept. 23, 2022, Arlene Alberta (Wyatt) Seeley, passed away peacefully at her home in Holly Pond, Alabama, at the age of 97. Arlene was born on October 6, 1924, in Valley Junction, Iowa to Welcome and Minnie (Lumberg) Wyatt. She was the mother of six children: Alberta Johnson, Alice James, James Stivers, Sharon Evans, Noel Seeley, and Nancy Seeley.
Arlene was a resident of Newton, Iowa for most of her life, until due to health reasons, she moved to Holly Pond, Alabama to live with her daughter for the last 18 plus years. Mrs. Seeley was the last of this generation of the Wyatts. She was the family historian even in her late 90’s you could ask for a birthday, marriage, or death and she would know it. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. You could still hear her sing a hymn or two at the age of 97. Arlene was well loved by her church Grace Community Church of Holly Pond. No matter rain or shine she would have her walker at hand attending church, waiting to love and be loved on, at age 95 would be her last time to attend. She loved Jesus and longed to be with him.
She would take each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s hand, pat their hand, and look at them with tears in her eyes, and tell them she loved them. She got to hold almost every great great grandchild. What a sweet smile and giggle she had that will never be forgotten. One ongoing memory was with her great grandson-in-law, Houston, who would ask her to dance. She would politely smile and gently refuse his offer. She remained faithful to all, most importantly her heavenly father. She loved to embroider for others and taught each of her children how to do the same, even the boys. She was famous along with her sister Charity John, who you could always see working together all their days making homemade noodles, chicken and Charity’s famous angel food cake. She was a woman of little words but when she spoke you listened, to see what kind of nugget of life she might share. She lived a long and happy life. She will be missed, forever loved, and the story of her will be shared with the generations to come.
Mrs. Seeley is preceded in death by her parents: Welcome and Minnie Wyatt; daughters: Nancy Seeley, Alberta Johnson, and Sharon Evans; brothers: Robert Wyatt, Gerald Wyatt, Lyle Wyatt; and sister: Charity (Wyatt) John.
Survivors include her daughter: Alice James; sons: James Stivers, Noel Seely, Sherry Seeley; grandchildren: Aleycia (Boulahanis) Skelton, Mike Skelton, Donald Russell, Dawn Stumpfol, Timothy Stivers, Aimee Palys, Sabrina Gogerty, Jordan Gogerty, and Christopher Seeley; great grandchildren: Kenneth Boulahanis, Bethany Boulahanis, Nicholas Boulahanis, Michelle Boulahanis, Jacquline Black, Houston Black, Steven Hubbard, Samantha Hubbard, Sabreena Hubbard, Mychal Stumpfol, and ReBekkah Stumpfol, Claire Palys, Sophie Palys, Aaron Stivers, Kieran Gogerty, Elias Gogerty, Adeline Gogerty, Misty Campbell, and Brandy Renfrow; great great grandchildren: Malachi Boulahanis, Shiloh Boulahanis, Selah Boulahanis, Josiah Boulahanis, Boston Gibbs, Nadia Gibbs, Niya Boulahanis, Jagger Boulahanis, Paisley Black, and Axel Black.
Funeral services for Mrs. Seeley will be held on Friday Sept. 30, 2022, at Wallace Funeral Home in Newton, Iowa, with an hour of visitation starting at 1 p.m. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Newton Memorial Park Cemetery. Nov. 12, we will hold a celebration service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Arlene Seeley where her great-grandson and great-great-grandchildren serve.
To donate. please visit: www.imb.org (International Mission Board).
Obituary lovingly written by the Seeley family.
Holly Pond Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
