Vivien "Viv" Laura (Gedney) Seal

On Thursday, April 8, 2021 we said our final goodbyes to our beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and best friend, Vivien “Viv” Laura Seal, 70, of Spokane, WA.  Surrounded by her loving family, she passed peacefully after a determined battle with pancreatic cancer.  There will be a celebration of her life this summer with a family get-together to share food, chocolate and memories, a happy time, no tears…a time to laugh (or snort) and play card games.

Born in Lebanon, OR on September 1, 1950 to Harry John and Opal Larabell (Burns) Gedney, Viv was one of four children.  The caretaker sister that was always trying to make sure everyone else was ok…the protector.  She graduated from Mapleton High School and shortly afterward met Otis “Giant” Seal.  Otis had already been hanging out with Buz and Harry who helped with the introduction to their sister, which led to a beautiful marriage.  Marrying the love of her life on January 16, 1971 in Eugene, OR.   They were blessed with their eldest daughter in May 1973, Angela Nicole.  Then they headed down to Bonner, Montana where their youngest daughter was born in Missoula, July 1975, Candase Dawn.

Viv was a stay-at-home Mom for many years while her girls were young, then as the girls grew up Otis and Viv started a cleaning business to keep herself busy while helping support the household.  She excelled at cooking and keeping her house clean and organized, a true “Domestic Goddess”.  You could spot where Viv lived…wherever they lived…as it had the best flower gardens in the neighborhood.  She found real joy tending to her flowers and loving all her grandkids.  In 1997 they gained their first grandson, Benjamin Seal and in 2000 Viv and Otis jumped in and helped raise this grandson.  A true act of kindness, one that can never be repaid.  She was blessed with Milo Jarvis in 1998 and Chloe Jarvis in 2001. In December 2006 grandson Broden Seal-Miller arrived, filling their hearts with even more joy.  They would wind up staying most of their lives in Bonner, MT.  Next, they moved to Clinton, MT for 10 years.  In 2011 the joy of grandkids grew by three with Jacob, Jared and Hailey Miller.  Viv and Otis finally settled in Spokane, WA in 2016 to help with their youngest grandson and have Otis help run Toby and Candase’s electrical business.   She was an active and devoted member of her congregation as a Witness of Jehovah.  As cancer joined her journey she loved to listen to “Give me Courage”.  She continued to listen until the very end.   Her favorite Bible verse:  Revelations 21:34 – Look!  The tent of God is with mankind and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them.  And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be nor more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more.  The former things have passed away. –

A kind and loving woman who touched the lives of everyone she met, she leaves behind her beloved husband of 50 years, Otis “Giant” Seal; daughters, Angie Seal of Missoula, MT and Candase (Toby) Miller of Spokane, WA; brother, Harry Gedney of Florence, MT; five grandsons, Benjamin Seal (Rebecca Stevenson – Fiance), Milo Jarvis, Jacob (Aileen) Miller, Jared Miller, Broden Seal-Miller; two granddaughters, Chloe Jarvis and Hailey Miller; two great-grandsons, Ash Miller and James Miller.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Buzz Gedney; sister, Zan Gedney and her parents.

The family suggests donations may be made to Jehovah’s Witnesses at http://donate.jw.org/ui/E/donate-home.html#/donate

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