"A good guy" remembered
Mayor, neighbor, friend, father, husband, grandpa
by Marlo Benning
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| Elvin cherished the times spent with his grandchildren. He and Corliss are pictured with all nine of them. Front: Lacey Pierce, Michael Seward, Lesley Pierce. Middle: Jake Seward, Kellee Seward, Elvin Seward, Dustin Seward, Nick Seward. Back: Jason Seward, Corliss Seward, Korby Seward. |
Elvin Seward's daughter, Twila, recalls him telling her that if he passed away, he didn't think anyone would remember him. He felt that he hadn't done anything "big" in his lifetime.
Elvin was proven wrong as hundreds of people passed through the doors to pay their last respects at his wake and funeral held in his hometown of Eagle Bend last week.
He hadn't been aware that all of the love he showed to others throughout his lifetime had made such an impact on them. He was simply living his life in his own way.
Elvin's family has received overwhelming support from those that knew and cared about him since his unexpected death on November 3.
In a small town, everyone comes to you, said Corliss, his wife of 48 years.
"He and I just never thought about it-How everyone cared."
The outpouring of compassion has been tremendous for his family, which includes wife Corliss, daughter Twila Pierce and their three sons, Rick, Todd and Wayne and his grandchildren.
"To us he was just dad, but you don't realize how many lives he's touched," Todd said.
A community man
Elvin's love for his fellow neighbors was shown in his actions. He was Eagle Bend's mayor for the past year after 16 years of experience on the city council. He was also a volunteer fireman, a Lion's Club member and on his church's council.
His family described him as the "go to" person for many in the city and that he loved doing things for people. They said he never thought badly of anyone and that he was always friendly and would talk to anybody.
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| Many occasions such as deer hunting season brought the Seward family together. This 2003 season was shared by, front: Kellee Seward, Michael Seward, Jake Seward, Rick Seward. Middle: Lesley Pierce, Nick Seward, Todd Seward. Back: Elvin Seward, Dustin Seward, Korby Seward, Jason Seward, Wayne Seward. |
Twila said that he was interested in the development of things and wanted to see the town grow.
Elvin was a man that was firm in his beliefs and not one to agree with everybody, his family said, but he wouldn't push his opinion on anyone.
He was also a very generous, pleasant man, according to his neighbor and friend, Robert Thorson.
"He was always looking out for us. He was just good at everything he did," Thorson said.
A family man
Elvin and Corliss have always believed in living life in a close knit fashion with their family. They bonded regularly with their children and grandchildren during holiday get-togethers.
"You'd never think about not coming," commented son Todd.
They would continually be planning the next family outing, which included much more than holidays. Hunting and fishing trips, parties in their yard and short vacations were some of the special times they shared.
"We did everything with dad," said Twila, "It was all about family."
The Seward's nine grandchildren have learned how important family is by growing up with these values. A tradition that began with the first grandchild's birth was for the grandchildren to visit them for one week each year. Eventually, when that number grew to nine, they would have an extremely full house.
And even though there would be three empty beds upstairs, the grandkids chose to cram onto the living room floor.
"There was a sea of blankets and bodies because no one wanted to miss anything," Twila recalled of these kids (who are now grown up) that continue to have a close bond with one another.
Corliss said that what she will miss the most is going for rides with Elvin. It was their special time together and also when the children were young.
The children described their regular Sunday afternoon outings. They would jump in the vehicle and just drive around until they ended up "somewhere", which was the best part of the rides, they said. They think that Elvin had a destination in mind the whole time when they remember back on it.
"You'd think we'd catch on, but we never did," Todd said of his dad's final destinations.
Elvin spent the last hours of his life on a hunting trip, something that he has enjoyed doing with his family members for many years.
"We never missed a year since I was 12 years old," Todd said.
"He enjoyed those times," Rick added.
A remembered man
As his family and friends overcome the void that has been left in their lives with the passing of Elvin, they will always have the memories of a man described over and over as "a good guy".
"We'll have us a hard struggle, but we'll make 'er," Corliss said.
A neighbor lady had stopped by their home upon hearing the news of Elvin and heard laughter from inside the Seward's walls.
"She said 'it's a time of sorrow, but it's a happy family'," Corliss said.
"I thought that was quite a comment.
"We received a lot of compliments about our family-We knew, but didn't think others knew."
As far as laughter and reliving memories, "that's the way Elvin would have wanted it," said Corliss.
marlo@inhnews.com