Robert Franklin Sealey, 85, of Sedalia, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2025, at Lincoln Community Care Center, Lincoln. He was born on May 17, 1939, in Gentry County near King City, Missouri, a son of Theodore Volney and Ruby Lavon (Ader) Sealey.
He grew up milking cows, feeding pigs, and doing other farm chores. Bob attended a one-room school in Spring Grove and graduated from Maysville High School in 1957. While in high school, he played football and they were conference champions his senior year. He also played baseball.
After high school, Bob worked at the Armour Meat Packing plant in St. Joseph. He was united in marriage to Janice DeLong and was blessed with the gift of a daughter, Sherry.
In 1962, Bob was drafted into the United States Army during Vietnam. When he came home in September of 1964, he went back to work for Armour. On September 9, 1967, he was married to Sandra Kay Skillman at the Baptist Church in Maysville. Bob then worked for his brother, Jack, on the farm until 1971 when he took a job constructing metal buildings with Timber Frame. In 1975, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, retiring on October 13, 1992, just to join the United States Army Reserve and then retiring again on May 17, 1999.
In 1977, he became a maintenance worker for the Missouri Department of Transportation. After retiring from MoDOT in May of 1997, he and Sandra moved to a farm east of Lincoln, where he raised beef cattle and baled hay and in 2003, they moved to a bigger farm near Windsor. Bob continued to raise cattle and loved riding horses, going on trail rides, and coon hunting. He was never without a good horse and a faithful dog. He had a passion for planting trees.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church at Pyrmont near Stover, the American Legion Post No. 642 of Sedalia, The 40 and 8 of Sedalia, and the Oak Hills Coon Club of Cole Camp.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Sealey of the home; daughter, Sherry Henderson of Columbia; sisters, Wanda Calvert and Sonny of St. Joseph and Katherine Salisbury and Danny of Lee's Summit; brother, Jack Sealey and Carol of Weatherby; grandson Mark A. Henderson and Katie of Columbia; and great-grandchildren, Eden Kay and Violet Jane Henderson.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Ruby Sealey and sisters, Neoma Jane Sealey at age of 2 and Rita Carpenter.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Higginsville with Pastor Eugene Moll officiating with military honors by the American Legion Post No. 305 of Cole Camp.
The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Show-Me Christian Youth Home, PO Box 6, La Monte, MO 65337, or in care of the Fox Funeral Home, PO Box 37, Cole Camp, MO 65325. Online condolences may be left or to plant a tree in his remembrance at www.foxfuneralhomecolecampmo.com.
