Grandma Vi

Grandma Vi came in to our lives in 1968, hand picked by Grandma Mary, or so the story goes.

Grandpa George and Vi Seaman, a kindergarten teacher, and choir director of the Terrace United church, were married and the family grew with two new sisters, Leah and Gayle.

Vi 's book, They Also Came, went to the publisher in 1987, at the same time that leukemia claimed her. It is a book of tribute to missionary women of the West Coast. She relates the experiences of the early missionary wives, teachers, nurses and other dedicated women who devoted their lives to the people living in isolation on lighthouses, in logging camps, and frontier and Native villages. She always was a storyteller.

This is an image of the Thomas Crosby before Great Grandpa George and Vi were on the boat. More information on the Thomas Crosby's history can be found here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Argonaut-II-1937-1966

Grandpa wrote the chapter about Grandma Vi, who also came. They started their ministry on the Thomas Crosby in July of 1970 and Grandma was a full partner right from the start. She worked, at times in the Kindergarten at Hartley Bay; at other times she substituted in Grades 6 and 7. In the church there, there was Sunday School, and youth choirs. But Grandma and Grandpa visited many communities along the B.C. coast, so Sunday School could fall on any day, in any community.

Grandma's great love was music - teaching new songs and rhythm band instruments. She could often be found on a kitchen floor, telling Bible stories and making crafts with children.

Even on their days off the Ship, grandma would be shopping for people back in the remote communities they served, or writing a newsletter for the many United Church congregations that wanted to know more about the mission.

After their retirement from the Thomas Crosby, Grandma and Grandpa moved to Duncan, where they remained active in the church, visiting and entertaining friends and family. The children still came, to do crafts and hear stories.

Grandma lived her life in service to others, and if she occasionally got lost in a Ferry bathroom, she had Kara to help her find her way.