Seeley I. Drew went home to be with his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was 94.
Because of his relationship with Jesus, we know that he is rejoicing in his eternal home.
He was born Dec. 22, 1926, to Irving & Hazel Cooper Drew in Franklin, N.J., and lived all of his life in Sussex County with the exception of serving his country for two and a half years in the U.S. Navy.
Seeley was brought up on a farm in Vernon, N.J., where he had his own poultry business starting at age 12. He attended Sussex High School until the age of 17, at which time he enlisted in the US Navy and served on the USS Mauna Loa Ammunition ship in the South Pacific during World War II.
After returning home from military duty, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Peggy Barker, on April 27, 1947. They raised three children, Jim, Bob and Lois, and celebrated 73 adventurous years of marriage.
Seeley worked for GLF-Agway as an installation and repair technician on many of the local dairy farms and private homes in the county for 42 years.
He was for many years a member of the Lafayette Federated Church, where he served as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and building committee member. He helped construct the Lafayette Federated Church building located at that time on Meadows Road.
He was a member of the AE/AOE Sailors Association; life member of the Sampson World War II Navy Vets; former Lafayette Township School Board member and township treasurer as well as having served on the township playground committee. Seeley was a former member of the Lake Pochung Outing Association. He enjoyed gardening, hunting and sailing his sailboat on Lake Pochung.
In retirement, he and Peggy enjoyed traveling through 39 states and parts of Canada camping in their motor home.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite (Peggy); and children, Jim (Jerrine) Drew, Bob (Dianne) Drew, and Lois (Henry) Huizinga; grandchildren, Nathan (Lori) and Ryan (Kimberly) Drew; Kyle (Sarah) and Patrick (Keara) Drew; Alison (Broc) Small; Mike Huizinga, Dave (Ashley) Huizinga and Melissa (Kevin) Turshman; and great-grandchildren, Hunter, Austin, Noah, Sonja and Anna Drew; Abbey, Jayden, Cooper and Ellie Drew; Jacob, Gavin and Benjamin Drew; Brantley and Tanner Drew; Maggie, Anna and Timothy Huizinga; Rosie and Charlie Huizinga; and Kendra and Luke Turshman. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s many events. He is also survived by a sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Irving E. and Hazel Cooper Drew; and two great-grandchildren.
Seeley will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.
A funeral service was held Jan. 21 at Lafayette Federated Church. Visitation was held Jan. 20 at the church. Interment was private.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lafayette Federated Church, 180 Route 15, Lafayette, N.J. 07848; Karen Ann Quinlan Foundation, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, N.J. 07860; SCARC Foundation, 11 US Highway 206, Suite 100, Augusta, N.J. 07822; St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or a charity of your choice.
The memorial service will be available for viewing on the Lafayette Federated Church website.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, Newton, N.J.