Chester Lionel SEELEY

Chester Lionel Seeley

A memorial service for Chester Lionel Seeley, founder and chairman of Northwest Book Depository Co., will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church at Charbonneau.

Mr. Seeley died of respiratory failure Sunday in his home at the age of 78.

He was born March 30, 1913, in Great Bend, Kan. He was a graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., and the Harvard Graduate School of Business. Mr. Seeley taught at Harvard University for several years, and had worked for American Optical Co., and for Pan American World Airlines.

He later was president of John W. Graham Co. in Spokane for more than 30 years before founding Seeley Business Systems in that city and Great West Publishing Co. in Portland. In 1964, Mr. Seeley established Northwest Textbook Depository Co. and served as president and chairman of the firm until his death.

Mr. Seeley maintained homes in Wilsonville and in Spokane.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; daughters, Judith of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Pamela of Abington, Mass; son Elmer of Lake Oswego; sister, Miriam Sharp of Winchester, Va.; and four grandchildren.

The family suggests that remembrances by contributions to the advancement office of Washburn University, Topeka, Kan. 66621.

Published in The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) Thursday, July 18, 1991, page D16