Cover photo for Joan (Horn) Seay's Obituary
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Joan (Horn) Seay

March 18, 1931 — September 27, 2024

Joan (Horn) Seay

Joan (Horn) Seay, 93, of Falling Waters, WV, passed away on September 27, 2024 at Berkeley Springs Healthcare Center.

Born March 18, 1931 in Detroit, MI, she was the daughter of Leo and Helen (Preisach) Horn.

Joan grew up in Detroit, MI and attended college at Wayne State University where she studied music, majoring in French horn. After graduation, Joan married former spouse George Hawkins and had four children. They lived in Walled Lake, Michigan for many years.

In 1965, Joan married her second husband Ryal and had one son.  Joan and Ryal moved their family to Plymouth, MI. After years of staying home, raising her children, Joan returned to school and earned a teaching certificate in elementary education. She excelled as a Teacher and was loved by her first graders in Livonia, Michigan. 

In 1985, due to staffing changes in the Livonia Public Schools, Joan became the band director at Franklin High School. This was a difficult transition but Joan excelled in her new role. Her knowledge and passion for music coupled with her teaching skills and her dedication to excellence transformed the Franklin High School band program. In her years as band director, Joan built an award winning marching band from the ground up. Standout moments for the marching band included playing on the steps of the U.S. Capital for President Bush. Joan also built an outstanding Jazz band. Standout moments for the Jazz band included performing at the Montreux-Detroit Jazz band festival in Detroit. Knowing that she could not do it alone, Joan led a dedicated and active group of band booster parents. During her time at Franklin, Joan provided the school, her students and their parents with all the tools they needed in order to successfully move forward without her. 

In 1993, Joan and Ryal retired to West Virginia to be near their children who had relocated there. In West Virginia, they found themselves surrounded by family and many wonderful friends and neighbors. Later in their retirement, they became active members of the Bedington United Methodist Church.

Joan had a lifelong passion for music.  As a French horn player, she joined Community Bands in Plymouth, MI and Martinsburg, WV and communities in Florida where she and Ryal would spend their winter months. When playing French horn became difficult, both she and Ryal sang in the choir at their church. 

Joan had a lifelong passion for education. She was dedicated to teaching students how to learn and how to be good citizens. During her retirement, Joan continued being an educator. She was a volunteer reader in her grandchildren’s classrooms. She gave private music lessons. Joan taught her young grandson how to play piano and as he grew older, she found him teachers that could take him to the next level. He is an accomplished pianist today.

Joan had a lifelong passion for people and community. Wherever she went, Joan would make friends and lent a helping hand when needed. Joan was an inspiration to her friends and family and she will be missed by all.

Joan is survived by son Steve Hawkins, daughters Jenny (Paul) Hatch and Sally (Greg) Santilli, 10 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband Ryal and sons Tom Hawkins and Jesse Seay.

A Memorial Service will be held at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main St., Plymouth MI 48170 on Friday, October 25th at 6:00pm. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 6:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Hospice Foundation of America.

Arrangements by Schrader-Howell Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be offered at www.schrader-howell.com

 

 

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Past Services

Memorial Gathering

Friday, October 25, 2024

4:00 - 6:00 pm (Eastern time)

Schrader-Howell Funeral Home

280 S. Main St, Plymouth, MI 48170

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Memorial Service

Friday, October 25, 2024

Starts at 6:00 pm (Eastern time)

Schrader-Howell Funeral Home

280 S. Main St, Plymouth, MI 48170

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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