Jesse Robert Seeley

Jesse Robert Seeley of Red Bank, Tennessee died on 17 July, 2022 at Life Care Center of Hixson where he had resided the past two years. He was 103. He was born March 5th, 1919 in Chester County, Tennessee to Jesse Freeman Seeley and Annie Mae (Barker) Seeley on the old “Outlaw” farm near Jacks Creek. At that time the family had neither running water nor electricity. All their personal belongings fit easily in the back of a buckboard wagon. School was a one room affair with six grades together. But instructions must not have been too bad because at some point Jesse was named Chester County Mathematics Champion, a skill that would eventually enable him to become a navigator on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

He married Vergie Lee on June 12th, 1943. She rode a troop train from Jackson, Tennessee all the way to San Antonio, Texas to be with him while he completed navigation school at Lackland. They remained happily married for seventy-four years until her death on September 1, 2017.

Jesse was in navigation school because of World War II and as soon as he graduated, he was swept up by the conflict and posted to a bomber squadron in England. It was a period of fear and uncertainty for Vergie as she sat by the radio hoping to catch any snippet of information to reassure her he was as safe as war would allow.

But there was virtually no news for a long time until she was notified by telegram that he was Missing in Action (MIA) after being shot down during a bombing raid on Bremen, Germany. In some ways it might have been best for her not to know what was going on: Jesse had been shot down over Bremen; parachuted into a flak-filled sky; attempted to evade and escape; was captured by German soldiers; interrogated; placed in solitary confinement on bread and water; held prisoner for a year and a half; liberated by the Russians; and then trucked to Camp Lucky Strike so he could be flown to France on a stripped down B-17. It was then Vergie finally received some news – Jesse was coming home to her and the son he had never seen.

Jesse and Vergie had four children: Jesse Robert Jr., James Larry, Sharon Patrice, and Phillip Lee. Together they traveled the world from Kaufburen, Germany, to Biloxi, Mississippi to Fairbanks, Alaska. But Red Bank was considered “home” after settling there in 1965. All the children graduated from Red Bank High School.

Robert and Vergie were lunchtime fixtures at the Southern Star Restaurant where they were fussed over and spoiled to a fault. In return, the two of them considered each and every one who worked at “The Star” to be part of their own special family.

So, to sum it all up, Robert Seeley has died. But his obituary is not just the obituary of Robert. It is really more like Part Two of the Seeleys’ Obituary. You know, the Seeleys. You can’t think of Jesse without thinking of Vergie. You can’t think of Vergie without thinking of Jesse. Until September 01, 2017 no one would have imagined it was possible. But it is and here it is. And fittingly, the two of them will be buried together in a military grave in a military cemetery in the town they both loved and the town that loved them loved back. It could not be any other way.

Jesse is survived by sons James Larry Seeley and Phillip Lee Seeley (Vicki). He was preceded in death by his father Jesse Freeman Seeley and his mother Annie Mae Seeley; beloved wife Vergie; children Jesse Robert Seeley, Jr. (Maryjane) and Sharon Patrice Seeley Finnell (Mike).

A host of adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue his legacy, including: Eric Richardson and his daughter Olivia Brienne Richardson Cross ( Jeremy); Margaret Brittany Seeley Furniss (Kris) and children Colin Archer and Gray Alexander Furniss; Adriane Elise Seeley Pinner (Nathan) and children Samuel Andrew and Sybil Elise Pinner; Emily Victoria Seeley Goodman (Brady) and children Fisher Patton and Penelope Rae Goodman; Phillip Alexander Seeley; Missy Bandach and children Maryjane, Jeffery Vincent, and Michael James Bandach; Tracy Seeley Coleman; and Aimee Seeley Richards (Dennis) and daughter Juliette Mae Richards.

Visitation will be from five to seven on Thursday, July 21st at North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN. The funeral will be held at 9:00 am Friday, July 22nd at the North Chapel with Dr. Fred Steelman presiding. Interment at Chattanooga National Cemetery will follow the service.

No flowers please. Anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to pick a veteran’s organization of their choosing. The family thanks you for your understanding during this difficult time and for your unqualified love and admiration of this uncomplicated man, this true American hero.