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BORN
1941
DIED
2026
FUNERAL HOME
800 E Watauga Ave
Johnson City, Tennessee
Herbert Seaton Obituary
April 9, 1941 -
January 5, 2026
JOHNSON CITY - Herbert Clyde Seaton, Jr., 84, Johnson City, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home.
Herb was born April 9, 1941, in Johnson City.
He was a graduate of Science Hill High School and East Tennessee State College. Following his graduation from ETSC, Herb joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany.
He was a proud member of the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association, an organi- zation facilitating the 6,000 mile circumnavigation by boat of the Eastern U.S. and part of Canada, following the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New York canals, Northwards through Canadian waterways, across the Great Lakes, South on the Inland Rivers, then East on the Gulf Coast to the starting point, closing the Loop. Herb completed this feat three times, mostly solo in his 53-foot motor yacht "Phanthom" earning him the Platinum burgee with accolades and endearment from the AGLCA, where he was honored as Harbor Host of the Year.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Clyde and Irene M. Hill Seaton, and a brother, Jack C. Seaton.
Herb is survived by his sister, Betty Seaton Williams, and by seven nieces and nephews: Toby Lloyd, Tim Lloyd, Tina Blount, Tracey Lloyd, Terri Parsons, Tony Seaton, and Tom Seaton.
Visitation will be held at Appalachian Funeral Home in Johnson City on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Burial will be at Happy Valley Memorial Park in Johnson City, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Those planning to attend are to meet at the cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.appfh.net.
Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 800 E. Watauga Ave., Johnson City, TN, 37601, is honored to serve the Seaton family. (423-928-6111).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Herbert Seaton
Sponsored by Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Johnson City.
4 Entries
Maridee Sandridge
January 20, 2026
I helped Herb get his boat in order in Annapolis then helped him on the Loop until Peterborough Canada. I saw him in so much pain but so determined to finish his third Loop. We saw new places, old friends and he was happy. I am happy I was part of his life. Toby, thank you for being there to help your Uncle finish his goal.
John & Susan Robin
January 11, 2026
Herb is gone.
Such a sad feeling for Susan and I. The Captain of the Phanthom has been called to the next cruising ground by the Admiral.
We have been friends with Herb since August 2017, when he invited us to our first "Deck Tails" in Luddington. We had a fun evening with 6 other Loopers recounting our adventures. Herb had just hooked up with Mike Sheeney, and they were two solo Loopers heading to Chicago. He chided me on our Kha Shing 37, saying we had been picked " too early" as Phanthom had grown to 53 feet!
We met up at Tarpon Springs, when we cruised to the Bahamas with him in 2019, and he took us out to dinner at his favourite restaurant. As we drove up, there were at least 30 people in line to get in. I figured, let´s go to another restaurant. He said, no problem! We walked past all the line, and the hostess led us to the only available table in the house. Turns out, Herb ate the 3-4 days a week, and on every holiday purchased gifts for the entire staff. He loved that place.
we arrived in the Bahamas in February 2019. You should have seen his smile! After completing his first Loop, this was his dream, come true!
We spend the next month in Brand Bahamas, and the Abacos, and as we had run out of cruising time, his nieces husband Bill, flew up to help him get back to the US.
After the Bahamas trip, we chatted at least omce a month, and texted back and forth. This continued our until November of 2025. He was just heading off to the Hospital, because he had a bad cold, which turned into Pneumonia.
Our last text was around Halloween, when I kidded him about being in the hospital again, looking for a new nurse, and sent him a photo of a cute nurse.
His reply was, Damn, thats my night time nurse! She has been giving me the best injections!
Hard to sum up Herb in a few words. I know it would take a convention hall a couple of days to tell all the Herb Stories. I look forward to the opportunity.
Well, I know the Big Admiral up there, will commission a new Phanthom, with the letter H, for Herb, and he is heading out on his next adventure.
Sure will miss you Herb!!!
Gudrun Seaton
January 10, 2026
I met Herb in Germany and married him shortly after our move to Sand Key FL.
He took care of my son Luciano and introduced us to the Beach life. We loved to eat and cook together, went many times to Tarpon to eat the grilled Octopus. We kept in touch through all those years and he always was there when I needed advice.
He will be missed!!!
Charlie McVey
January 10, 2026
Herb met us at the marina in Tarpon Springs, right after our gulf crossings. Pastry in hand. This was 2016. From that day on, Herb was our friend, advisor, and provider of stone crab. The loopers who knew him, admired him. Those who never met him will hear many stories about him. We will all miss Herb.
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