Viola Tula “Vi” Seeley, died on November 22, 2024, at Sulphur, Oklahoma. Services were held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the Crossway Baptist Church of Sulphur with Rev. Robert Green officiating and Bill Leveridge. Interment was in Oaklawn Cemetery, Sulphur.
Mrs. Seeley was born May 15, 1929 in Arkansas to William E. Quinton and Tula Clark Baker Quinton, the 7th of 9 children. She was married to Ben Seeley at Sulphur on July 16, 1947, who preceded her in death on October 13, 2006. She was a Veteran Center employee for over 33 years. She grew up in the Mill Creek area before moving to Sulphur in 1951. She was a member of the Abundant Life Church of Sulphur.
She graduated from Mill Creek High School in 1947 and was the salutatorian. She moved to Sulphur in 1951. She later attended classes at Higher Ed in Ardmore and ECU in Ada. She completed the Medical Record Health Information Personnel Course from the American Health Information Association and worked in Medical records at the Sulphur Veterans Center where she was employed for more than 33 years. She earned a certificate in the National Registry of Medical Secretaries and completed the Medical Record Personnel course of the American Medical Records Association, which is now AHIMA, obtaining the status of American Medical Record Technician and still holds the title of RHIT Emeritus. She cleaned the offices of Hurst, McNeil and Gordon along with her daughters and granddaughter for 25 years until the doors closed in 2021. She loved spending time with family, singing, walking, reading, music, and attending church. Her greatest joy was her family, and they all were very special to her. She never forgot a birthday and remembered each one at Christmas. She always encouraged them to be the best they could be and was very proud of their accomplishments. She was a great supporter of the Chickasaw Nation and taught her family to be proud of their Chickasaw heritage. She became a Christian at a very young age and loved her church family very much. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Secretary, youth leader and a member of the choir, and praise and worship team for many years. She always answered by the names Grandma, Gigi, Babe and Granny to all the people she met. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren play all the sports activities and cheering on the Sulphur Bulldogs and OU Sooners.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William E. Quinton and Tula Clark Baker Quinton; her husband, Ben Seeley; one brother, Woodrow Quinton; six sisters, Leota Morton, Helen Ridling, Ellen McDonald, Winnie Hawkins, Jean Johnston and Maggie Pittman; a daughter, Donna Bellefeuille; a daughter, Sharon Sartors; a granddaughter, Cris Bellefeuille and two sons-in-law, Russell Bellefeuille and Rick Priddy.
She is survived by one daughter, Rhonda (Suzy) Priddy, of Sulphur; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry “Bub” Seeley and Sammie Jo Seeley, Dickson, Okla.; one sister, Winzola Bray, Tishomingo; one sister-in-law Iree Seeley; eight grandchildren and spouses, Cheri Bellefeuille- Gordon and Dan Gordon, Sulphur, Schelle Seeley Armstrong and David Armstrong, Sulphur, Shawn and Katy Seeley, Lawton, Okla., Rachael Harazda, Sulphur, Benji Sartors and Lacee Sartors, Sulphur, Skip Seeley and Whitney Seeley, Sulphur, Derrick Priddy, Sulphur, Chuck Bellefeuille and Kendall Bellefeuille, Latta, and two bonus granddaughters, Bea Moses and Danna Bernardi and 17 great-grandchildren and one (1) great-great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Shawn Seeley, Benji Sartors, Skip Seeley, Derrick Priddy, Chuck Bellefeuille, Dan Gordon, and Noah Gordon. Honorary pallbearers were Logan Seeley, Cedon Harazda, Brody Priddy, AJ Gordon, Traber Sartors, Jagger Seeley, Jackson Seeley, Brandt Beatley, Phil Hurst, Jim Forbes, Stanley Bennett, Fob Jones, Brad Sanford and the men of the Abundant Life Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to theAbundant Life Church, P. O. Box 388, Sulphur, Okla. 73086.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Crossway Baptist Church Sanctuary. Interment to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur. Viewing will be held from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Crossway Baptist Church Sanctuary.
