Mary Aline Seymour, 47, of Nederland passed away, Tuesday, August 16, 2005 at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.
Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Saturday at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves with Reverend Dan Malain officiating.
Many memories flood our minds today as we say goodbye to our sister Mary Aline Seymour. She was the seventh child born in a family with eight children. Four older brothers Travis, Robert, Edward, Jimmy and two older sisters Charlotte (deceased) and Paula, and one baby Sister Kathleen. This is the Seymour family of Nederland. A home where there was always an abundance of children, laughter, wrestling, giggling and the smell of good food cooked with love by their mother Aline. Their mother also served up unlimited amounts of kisses, hugs, and I love you’s… that is where they learned to love…. Mary was our Tom Boy… and tonight, as we say goodbye, we feel the emptiness already.. Just the simple thing of saying her name…Mary…will be missed…
Mary grew up in Nederland. When she was born, three of her older brothers had the mumps… they could only look at her from the bedroom door…their mom would hold her up and they thought she was beautiful…and they could not wait to hold her…babies are cherished in this family…
Mary graduated from Nederland High School, and went to St. Charles Catholic Church where the Seymour children could fill the church benches. After high school she joined the Navy, she served as military police. She was Chief Master at Arms Mary A. Seymour United Stated Navy, that was her carrier. Her Accomplishments were many, expert in Navy commendation medals, certificates, awards, all in excellence, they read, meritorious service, While serving as assistant security officer, naval air facility in Alaska. Exceptional professional ability, expertly managing personnel through a myriad of challenges associated with operating the facilities. Chief Seymour’s initiative, perseverance, and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon herself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service… superior performance of duties, exemplary, consistent, meticulous, enthusiasm she provided a benchmark for excellence, worthy of emulation by all. Personal dedication and performance reflect great credit upon yourself, all she did was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval service…letters of appreciation from Admiral Zumwalt, Rear Admirals, commanders “Job Well Done” …this is indeed overwhelming…tonight we are saying goodbye to more than we know…
In the navy Mary traveled the world, seeing places of great beauty, she lived in Alaska, Japan, The Philippines…She told us about her happiest days… when she lived in the Philippines…there the people are kind, have a generous spirit and country is as beautiful as the people who live there.
After 20 years in the navy she retired, eventually came back to Texas and after the death of her mother she moved into the family home. Retirement days were spent on the front porch where she grew up, cool breezes of the spring time always made her smile. Recalling youthful days of tree climbing, playing games of chase with neighborhood children, leapfrog, red rover, king of the mountain, anty over (where you throw the ball over your roof top to someone in the back yard) great game. This makes us smile now as we remember with her. Just last week she sat and waved at neighbors passing by, and illness kept her home this week and all she could do is dream, as her memories lived on in her heart. Across the street lives the Coussou family, they talked on the phone every day Mr. Coussou would call Mary, or she would call him…it was a ritual, and a loving way to check on each others health…the Coussou’s where Mary’s second family. Mary was their most welcomed guest, they filled Mary’s life with visits, laughter, love, prayer, and peace…They were one of God’s greatest gifts to Mary they had many hugs and I love you’s for our sister Mary…Words are not enough to let them know the beauty of their friendship.
Mary had no children just a puppy named Penny and 25 nieces and nephews, and 31 great nieces and nephews…that was enough to keep her busy…they loved it when Aunt Mary would come home on leave and take them crabbing and fishing at her secret childhood fishing hole. Mary was young and fun (different from parents you know). Mary would always make her mothers famous spaghetti and meatballs…sometime over 100 meatballs for one batch…Then there were the burritos…Oh My! The best ever…She would make so much and be very tired and when the kids would call for just one more batch Mary would just grin and make some more…corn dogs, from the 1950’s recipe of her mom a little league ball park favorite smiles filled the hospital room as we remember…irreplaceable...
indeed.
She would surprise her brother Edward during tax season with some of her mothers pork chops and gravy…working hectic 14 hour days he would look up and there was Mary walking in the door with some home cooking, a hug, and an I love you, and don’t work to hard, that greeting always went with her meals…what are we to do…We wonder…and sit quietly for a while…Silence and tears fill her room…
When Leukemia touched our family, Mary opened her home and heart to help, cooking, washing, driving to hospitals and doctors appointments…It is too much to remember…All she quietly did unselfish…loving…This was God’s calling on her life…To spread kindness and forgiveness…That is what was the best…If we could all be so kind to one another and unselfish…It truly humbles us to remember…Limitless Love…That’s our Mary…That is who we are missing tonight…We can all take a lesson from her life. We are blessed by her life and will always think of her when a cool spring breeze brushes our face…It will be an angel kiss from Mary…We did not tell her enough…How much we lover her…Regrets..Yes…We have some…She was a blessing and as our hearts fill tonight with emotion we need to share her…Mary is now…The laughter of a child…A twinkle in an eye…A peaceful spirit that comes from God’s Merciful Love…
That is our sister Mary…May God forever hold her in the palm of his hand.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband David Bodamer, mother Aline Knobloch Seymour and her sister Charlotte. She is survived by four brothers, Travis and his wife Debby Seymour of Nederland, Robert and his wife Gail Seymour of Nederland, Edward and his wife Susan Seymour of Nederland, Jimmy Seymour of Nederland, two sisters, Paula and her husband Randy Hickman of Nederland, Kathleen and her husband David Feldschau of Nederland, twenty-five nieces and nephews and thirty-one great nieces and nephews and her faithful and loving puppy “Penny”
