Funeral for Mrs. Ella Newland Seeley, member of a pioneer Kentucky family, will be at 2 p.m. today at Pearson’s. Burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Seeley, who died unexpectedly at 11:30 p.m. Sunday at her home, 1134 Cerokee Road, would have been 90 April 2. She never had been ill previously, members of the family said.
The day of her death Mrs. Seeley had attended church services, taught a Sunday school class, and called on some friends in the afternoon. She had never missed a day as Sunday school teach since early womanhood.
She is the widow of Dr. W.D.Seeley, who practiced medicine in Taylorsville until he retired in 1904 and moved to Louisville. She was a native of Shelby County.
Grandfather was 103
Members of the family recalled that Mrs. Seeley’s ancestors were noted for longevity. One of her grandfathers lived to be 103. Several others in the family lived to be near 100.
Before coming to Louisville, Mrs. Seeley taught in Baptist Sunday schools. She became a Christian Scientist here and was librarian for the First Church of Christ Scientist, during World War I.
After the Second Church was formed, Mrs. Seeley became Sunday school teacher there, a position she held at the time of her death.
Her interests were confined largely to church work. But she found time to do considerable needle work. Quilts, embroidery, and similar work she did were given friends throughout the country.
Interested in Horses
She was deeply interested in horses and in her youth rode horseback almost daily. She also was interested in politics, but took no part in organization work. She was an admirer of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Among survivors is a daughter, Mrs. Ralph W. Chaney, Berkeley, Cal., who came here yesterday by plane to be at the services. Mrs. Chaney is the wife of Dr. Chaney, University of California scientist, noted for his work developing atomic energy. Dr. Chaney previously had been known as a paleobatanist, who identified the dawn redwood grove in China as a species of the California redwood.
Son Among Survivors
Other survivors are a son, H.D. Seeley; two other daughters, Mrs. Walter L. Gregory, Chicago, and Miss Mary Seeley; a sister, Mrs. Nan Andersen, and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Gregory and her husband came here from Chicago for the funeral. Mr. Gregory, former vice-president of the Palmer House and president of the Chicago Civil Service Commission, is now president of the Washington Park Jockey Club.
Published in The Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) Wednesday March 16, 1949 page 12
Funeral for Mrs. Ella Newland Seeley, widow of Dr. William D. Seeley, former Taylorsville, Ky., physician, will be at 2 p.m. at Pearson’s. Burial will be in Cave Hill Cemetery. She died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday at her home, 1334 Cherokee Parkway.
Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Walter L. Gregory, Chicago; Mrs. Ralph Chaney, Berkeley, Cal., and Miss Mary Seeley; son H.D. Seeley; sister, Mrs. Nan Anderson, and three grandchildren.
Published in The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) Tuesday March 15, 1949 page 8
SEELEY, Ella Newland, Sunday, March 13, 1949, at 11:30 p.m. at her residence, 1334 Cherokee Rd. Widow of Dr. William D. Seeley; mother of Mrs. Walter L. Gregory, Chicago, Ill., Mrs. Ralph W. Chaney, Berkeley, Calif., Miss Mary E. Seeley and Mr. H.D. Seeley: sister of Mrs. Nan Anderson: also survived by 3 grandchildren. Remains at Pearson’s, 1310 S. 3d St. Funeral from Pearson’s Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Published in The Courier=Journal (Louisville, KY) Tuesday March 15, 1949 page 20
