Edward H. Seely

Edward Humber Seely, 82, died Friday, April 25 in Fort Collins, CO. He was born in Madill, OK, son of the late Oral Edward and Pearl Humber Seely. He attended public schools in Madill and Chickasha, OK. Following graduation from Chickasha High School, he attended the University of Chicago for two years on a National Merit Scholarship. Following 2 years’ service in the Army, including 1 year in Vietnam, he continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, where he received B. S. and M. S. degrees in Civil Engineering. He joined the USDA’s Soil Conservation Service during his student days and continued his career in areas of research such as watershed protection and flood prevention. He worked in SCS laboratories in Chickasha, OK, Oxford, MS and Fort Collins, CO before retiring from the USDA in 2008. Ed was active throughout his life in volunteer leadership roles, including serving as Toastmasters District Governor for Colorado & Wyoming in 1991-92. He discovered hiking Colorado’s mountain trails and climbing 14ers in 1985 when he joined the Fort Collins chapter of the Colorado Mountain Club and served on the CMC’s state board of directors for seven years. He also enjoyed leading cross-country ski trips for the CMC. In 2004, he was recognized by the American Hiking Society as a “Volunteer of the Year” for his work helping to establish the popular Greyrock trail in Poudre Canyon. He organized and oversaw its annual maintenance for many years. Following his retirement, geology became a much-loved hobby. On vacations from Patagonia to Alaska, he was always ready to stop and look at rocks. Ed enjoyed leading geology hikes for the Larimer County Natural Resources department until ill health forced his retirement in 2022. Survivors include his sisters Jane Seely Thomson and Helen Seely Slaughter, nieces Barbara and Hilary Thomson, nephew Matthew Slaughter (wife Isabel Rovira-Gibert, son Alex and daughter Virginia Slaughter-Rovira) and cousin Elaine Seely McClung. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Colorado Mountain Club’s mission of outdoor education and recreation at https://www.cmc.org/donate.

Edward H. Seely

April 25, 2025