Samuel Seay

SAMUEL CECIL BARRON SEAY OBITUARY June 28, 1949 - July 22, 2025

Samuel Cecil Barron Seay was born June 28, 1949, to the late Samuel Cecil Barron, Sr., and Frances Ilawyne Harkey Barron, in Bessemer, AL. His father was killed in a construction accident 6 days before he was born. When he was 6 years old, his mother married Samuel Cleveland Seay and he was adopted by his step-father and became Samuel Barron Seay.

Sam was baptized in his youth at the Old Blue Creek Baptist Church in Bessemer, AL. Some of his happiest memories as a child were living at "the old place" with his Papa Rufus Harkey and Grandaddy, Son Harkey. He was raised in Chatom, AL, and was a 1967 honors graduate of Lyman Ward Military Academy in Camp Hill, AL. He received an appointment to the US Naval Academy but the Ishihara color-blind test thwarted his future Naval career. Sam completed an Apprenticeship at US Steel and was classified as an Electrical Control Journeyman. Drafted in 1968 into the US Army, he honorably served his country in Viet Nam in Long Binh with the 3 rd Battalion 576 Ordinance Company.

After his tour, he returned to US Steel as a Control Electrician. He battled substance abuse from his time in Viet Nam, but overcame it, and went on to have a successful career as an Industrial Electrical Journeyman, then a Field Superintendent, and later became a Consultant to the Government of Ghana, Africa, and the Gold Consortium as a Head Technical Advisor.

Sam's intelligence and common sense were unmatched as well as his quick wit and sense of humor. He was fearless and loved to be in nature hunting, fishing, or catching snakes. He faced down death many times and harbored no fear of dying. His faith became his Rock, and his garden and his cats became his passions. He settled in Homer, LA, and loved his home on Lake Claiborne. He loved to garden, raising a variety of fruits and vegetables, in addition to raising rabbits and chickens. At one time, he had 17 roosters. He used to say "Boy, my neighbors loved me a daybreak." He was known around Homer to take in stray and discarded cats, often, too many.

In his later years, Sam struggled with several physical issues, especially after being involved in a horrific car accident in 2018 that left his body broken. However, his mind remained sharp and he could always muster up a smile and say "I'm all right." Even on his worst days, his will to get up, work harder, and stay positive shone through.

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