09/07/2007: "Arthur F. Seels"

January 8, 1911 - September 3, 2007
Arthur F. Seels of Friday Harbor passed away Monday morning, September 3 in the loving care of October House at the age of 96. He was born on January 8, 1911 in Seattle, Washington the son of Arthur G. and Frances Shea Seels. Art was raised in Seattle and as a young man worked as a parking attendant in the Cherry Street garage. Following high school he worked for a telephone company.

His father started Seels Automotive Service station in Richmond Highlands in 1914. Except for closing during both WW I and WW II it remained open with Art as owner after he returned from WW II. Art served in the United States Army Airforce from 1942 to 1945 in New Guinea as an aircraft mechanic. He and Frances Wingard were married in 1941 and she followed him around the country working as a nurse until Art was shipped overseas.

Art was an avid camera buff and he and Frances enjoyed the outdoors, hiking and camping with their German Shepherds. They sold their automotive service in 1970 and moved to Friday Harbor where they built their home at Turn Point and then in 1995 moved into town. Fran preceded him in death in 2001.
Art remained active through his remaining years and would often be seen walking downtown to join his friends at Vic's Drive In.

There will be a service in Evan's Funeral Home Chapel at 1:00 in Anacortes Saturday, September 8, 2007. We hope to have a local gathering for his favorite coffee and muffins at Vic's on Thursday, Sept. 13, 10:00 a.m., so we can share stories and laughter.