Roy Alvin Seay

Roy Alvin Seay, 74, of Lumberton, died Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Houston Methodist Hospital. He was born February 22, 1950, in Greenwood, Mississippi, to Maggie Veleta Seay and Earle Wayne Seay.

Roy was born and raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, where he graduated from Greenwood High School in 1968. After high school, he joined the Navy and proudly served on the USS Chilton as a Radarman from 1968 to 1972 during the Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. Following his military service, Roy pursued a degree in civil engineering through Lamar University. He worked at a Texaco service station while attending classes to support himself financially. Recognizing the challenges of balancing work and study, Roy applied for a job at Texaco. In his time at Texaco, he began working in the Yard Department, later transitioning to Drum Reconditioning in the Package & Shipping Department, then to the Refrigeration Department, and worked as an operator in the Crude Stills. Eventually, he had an opportunity to join the Electrical Department where he would go on to complete his four-year apprenticeship. He worked at the Texaco Refinery in Port Arthur until 1984 when he transferred to Texaco Chemical to work at the Neches Butane Plant. During this time, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Electronics from Lamar Port Arthur. When Huntsman Chemical acquired Texaco Chemical and merged Neches Butane with Jefferson Chemical, Roy was transferred to the O&O Plant. In his time at Huntsman, Roy worked as an I&E Construction Foreman before being reassigned as a Maintenance Team Leader. He retired from this position in 2006.

Outside of work, Roy had a wide variety of different hobbies and interests. He was an avid outdoorsman who greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a proud member of the Ten Mile Hunting Club in Mason, TX for almost 30 years. Roy attended a weekly gathering with his friends in Port Neches every Wednesday night for 30 years. He was also a very active member of the ham radio community. Roy earned his ham radio license in 1976 where he began operating under the callsign WB5ZFP. In 1978, Roy earned his Advanced Radio License and changed his callsign to KB5GK. He operated under this callsign for the next 46 years. In his retirement, Roy built a shop at his house where he would often complete woodworking, metal fabrication, and electronic repair projects. He could also often be found working on his beloved 1981 Jeep CJ7. This shop was also the home of his ham shack where he would operate his radios every morning.

Roy married his loving wife, Donna, in 1996, and they shared 28 years of marriage. He also had a deep love for his children, Jennifer and Hayden, and his grandchildren, Marley and McKenna. These were a source of great pride in his life.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Seay; daughter, Jennifer Schulten and husband, Alex; son, Hayden Seay; granddaughters, McKenna Schulten and Marley Schulten; brother, Richard Seay; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; half-brothers, Robert Seay and Ralph Seay; and sister-in-law, Mary Seay.

A gathering of Mr. Seay’s family and friends will be 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2024, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. His funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Broussard’s, with his interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Seay’s honor may be made to Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group, P.O. Box 12352, Beaumont, Texas 77726, MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210, or to Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, Texas 77210.

Roy’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their support and condolences during this difficult time. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved him.