Dr. Jacob Alif Seaton died Wednesday, March 27, 2013. He was born in Wellington, Kansas, on January 2, 1931, to Martin Kenner and Golda Mae (Thompson) Seaton. His parents, sisters Isabel Johnston, Lois Mae Hunt, brothers Martin Seaton and Charles Seaton preceded him in death. His wife, Olis Darlene (Pearce) Seaton; sons, William Kenner, Sean Stephen, and daughter, Laura Anne Turner survive him, along with three grandsons, two granddaughters, and one great-grandson. Olis and Jacob were married on April 10, 1955, in the Friends Church in Argonia, Kansas.
Jake, or Jay, as he was called by his friends was educated in the Wellington public schools and was granted a B.S. and M.S. from what is now Wichita State University. He finished his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana in 1957, while working on an Atomic Energy Commission fellowship dealing with non-aqueous chemistry of the rare earths. He also did research on dialkyl hydrazines for the U.S. Army while at Illinois.
Dr. Seaton worked briefly at Argonne National Laboratories before entering the USAF as a 1st Lt. In the USAF, where he was researching high temperature polymers and propellants for use in rockets and potential spacecraft at the Materials Laboratory of the Wright Air Development Center in Dayton, Ohio. After his two-year tour of duty, Jake returned to Kansas to be a senior research chemist at Spencer Chemical Co. in Merriam, Kansas.
In 1962, Dr. Seaton joined the Chemistry Dept. at Sam Houston State University and in 1966 he was chosen to chair the chemistry department at Stephen F. Austin State University. His efforts were instrumental in achieving accreditation for the department by the American Chemical Society and for its continued growth and development. In 1986, he stepped down from the chairmanship and in 1996 he retired.
Dr. Seaton was the recipient of numerous teaching awards and was a member of several scholarly organizations. He served as a councilor for the East Texas Section of the American Chemical Society of which he was a charter member. He served on American Chemical Society national committees and was an American Chemical Society Liaison with Congress. He was a member of Sigma Xi honorary research society and Phi Lambda Upsilon honorary chemistry society. He was also a member of Alpha Chi Sigma professional chemistry fraternity and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemistry.
Jake was active in cub scouts, boy scouts, youth baseball and was a volunteer with Buckner Eldercare. For two years he taught a jazz appreciation course for the Free University that was sponsored by the Student Center. Jazz music listening was a favorite avocation.
There will be no burial services. Dr. Seaton was cremated. He only asks that when you hear some good jazz music, tap your toe and nod your head in a hip manner.
His family will hold a memorial visitation Saturday, March 30, 2013, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Cason Monk-Metcalf, 5400 North St., Nacogdoches.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
Online memories and condolences may be offered at www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com.
