Donald F. Seay

Donald Freeman Seay, 75, of Jonesboro, died Thursday, February 5, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Born in Manila, Don moved to Jonesboro as a boy and lived most of his life here. He was a graduate of Jonesboro High School and attended Arkansas State University. He joined the U.S. Navy and became a Navy pilot, attaining the rank of Lt. Commander. Following his active duty in the Navy, Don earned a B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi and a J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law at Fayetteville.

He began a private law practice in Jonesboro in 1963 and was joined by Howard Templeton. When Howard was elected to a judgeship, Bill Bristow came into the practice, and they worked together for more than thirty years.

Don was a member of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Craighead County Bar Association and the Arkansas Bar Association. During the 1968 tornado devastation in Jonesboro, Don served as local chairman of the American Red Cross.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Edward E. and Laverne Freeman Seay, and by a brother, Jim Ed Seay.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Benskin Seay of the home;
two daughters and sons-in-law: Anne and Randy Bynum of Little Rock, and Kara and John Kratzer of Austin, Texas;
one sister, Jo Ann Allen of Dumas;
six grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday evening from five until seven at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 11:00 o’clock at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. Emil Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Active pallbearers include: Col. Tommy Davis, Dennis Zolper, Bill Bristow,
Judge Rice Van Ausdall, Warren Ellis and Raymond “Fly” Purtee. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Craighead County Bar Association and the Loyal Order of the Moose.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the American Cancer Society, Craighead Unit, 1205 S. Madison, Jonesboro, AR 72401, or the Magnolia Road Baptist Church, 911 Magnolia Rd., Jonesboro, AR 72401.

Online registry at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.