Garry James “Jim” Seal, USAF

May 22, 1948 – November 21, 2022

Garry James “Jim” Seal was born May 22, 1948, in Ironton, MO to Macel and James Seal. He passed away peacefully with his wife Brenda by his side on November 21, 2022, at his Piedmont residence. He loved Piedmont, growing up in government village, swimming in McKenzie Creek and playing little league baseball.

Jim graduated from Clearwater High School in 1966. Ten days after graduation Jim joined the Air Force, doing basic training at Lackland AFB and then Helicopter Technical School in Wichita Falls, TX, where he learned line maintenance mechanics and working on various helicopters. In the fall of 1968, he was stationed in Kwang Ju, Korea, where he was the crew chief on rescue helicopters. He was discharged in January 1970, after which he attended Southeast Missouri State University in the fall of 1970 and received his BS in Education in 1974. He taught his first year at Clearwater for the 1975-1976 school year. He then moved to San Antonio, TX to pursue his dream of coaching football. He taught and coached football, basketball and track at North Side Independence School District from 1976-1981 and Pease Middle School, where under his leadership the school won its first football, basketball and track championships. He then moved to Houston, TX and taught at Sheldon Independent School District where he was the 8th grade head football and track coach from 1981- 1984. They had never had a winning season until Jim became their head coach. He then began coaching at Kingwood High School where he was the freshman basketball and football coach and the next year, he became the sophomore coach. He spent 8 years at Kingwood High School where he touched many lives as all the students touched his.

He then left coaching and moved to Lynchburg, OH where he went back into Aircraft Maintenance for Air Borne Express. He soon rose to lead mechanic. In Ohio he made many lifelong friends. He retired in 2008 and returned to his hometown where he met Brenda, and they were married in 2012. He spent some of his happiest years with Brenda. Jim loved adventure, from riding his bicycle down Highway 1 in California, riding his motorcycle with lifelong friends (even going to Sturgis), or snow skiing. He loved his Labrador retrievers and Bo, and Gus held a special place in his heart. He loved kayak fishing, golf, playing his guitar, woodworking, baking bread and canning to share with others and was of the Baptist faith. He was a lover of a glass of wine, or a fine glass of bourbon and he loved his visits to bourbon country in Kentucky.

Preceding him in death is his father, James Seal and his sister-in-law, Ronda Seal.

He leaves to mourn his passing his mother, Macel Seal and his loving wife Brenda, both of Piedmont. His daughter Jacqulyn Nicole “Nicki” Forte and her husband Nick, of Leander, TX, his stepchildren, Erica Schaefer and her husband Fred, of Tigard, OR, Christopher McQuay and his wife Jennifer, of Jackson, MO, Ryan McQuay and his wife Sarah, of Jackson, MO; his grandchildren, Sienna and Brecker Forte, Claire and Eleanor Schaefer, Dawson, Finley, Silas and Atticus McQuay; his brother, Rick Seal, of Piedmont, his sister, Jamie Cates and her husband Jim, of Bridgeton, MO; his mother in law, Judy Barfield, of Piedmont, brother in law, Rodney Barfield and his wife LaRae, of Piedmont, Jerry Barfield and his wife Kristi, of Piedmont, his sister in law, Linda Barfield, of Piedmont, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

He touched the lives of so many that he met along the way with his sense of humor and always having a story to tell. He will be missed by all those that loved him and knew him. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Memorials have been requested to the Piedmont Public Library, Clearwater School Foundation or any Veterans Organizations.