Reuben Oscar Seay, 86, of Rector,died March 19, 2023, at NHC HealthCare in Kennett, Mo.

He was born Nov. 5, 1936, in the Blue Cane community and spent all of his life in and around Rector. He graduated from Rector High School in 1954 and farmed in the Blue Cane and Holly Island communities before moving to town and becoming the mayor of Rector in 1987. He served eight years as mayor and 23 years as a volunteer firefighter in Rector, and did various jobs at the Rector Labor Day Picnic, including picnic chairman.

He was a member of Rector First Baptist Church, where he served as an usher. He loved being part of the “welcome committee” at church; anyone who knew Reuben saw he loved to be with people. He truly never met a stranger. While he was mayor, he was especially proud of being part of local efforts to build the community center. Later in his life, he was able to work as the attendant/office coordinator at the center, welcoming people to events and to Rector.

He was in the National Guard for 10 years. He served 50 years on the Clay County Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, starting in 1971. He was a member of Dannelly Masonic Lodge for 65 years. He served as president of the Clay County Farm Bureau for two years.

He enjoyed fishing, beating everyone at dominoes, watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball games andArkansas Razorbacks basketball games, and keeping up with news – national, state, and local. For many years he loved cooking fish, chicken, and chili for large groups of people. Above all, family was first for him and his favorite thing to do was attend the annual Seay reunion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pinkney and Clora Seay, and a brother, Carl Seay.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Seay; his children, Ellen Meadows of Piggott and John and Angela Seay of Kapolei, Hawaii; an “adopted daughter,” Joan Mason Jeffery of Searcy; his grandchildren and spouses, Nathan and Bertha Seay, Morgan and Chris Vermillion, andAaron Meadows; three great-grandchildren, Aiden Seay, Luke Seay, and Alice Seay; three stepgrandchildren, Lance Fry, Matt Fry, Ashley Fry, and their families; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sue Ann and Larry Smith of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Fran and Allen Lovell of Bella Vista; two brothers and sisters-inlaw, Ralph and Connie Seay of Jonesboro and Paul and Rebecca Seay of Dardanelle; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Nathan Seay, Aaron Meadows, Chris Vermillion, Brent Seay, Ed Seay, and Jeff Seay will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at Rector First Baptist Church with Irby-Mitchell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, March 22, at the church with the Rev. David Richey and the Rev. Paul Seay officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Heights Cemetery.