Ruby Bell Palmer Seaman Bedore was born June 10, 1925, on a farm near
Woodston, Kansas and departed this life August 16, 2021. She was the
second daughter and one of five children of George A. and Mabel M.
Walker Palmer.
Ruby Bell grew up on the family farm, attended the Chalk Mound
School and graduated from Woodston Rural High School in 1943. She
attended a summer teachers’ training program at Fort Hays State College
then taught for four years in rural Rooks County at Hrabe School, Chalk
Mound and Survey schools.
Ruby Bell married Victor E. Seaman September 5, 1948, beginning
their lives together on a farm near Alton, KS until 1953 when they moved
to Stockton. Her son, Dwight Seaman, joined the family in October 1958,
and remains Ruby’s only child even as she treated nieces and nephews as
her own. Victor Seaman preceded her in death in March 1977. She later
married Joseph “Bill” Bedore in November 1977. Bill Bedore died in
June 1996.
With service to her family and the community in mind, Ruby worked a
variety of jobs while living in Stockton, Kansas. Her jobs and
responsibilities included work as a café cook and waitress, employee in
cream stations, a clerk and bookkeeper for Phelps Drug Store, a clerk in
the Register of Deeds office, and bus driver for U.S.D. 271 for 12
years. She was a Senior Companion from 1996 to 2013. Her work as a
Senior Companion touched many families and was a fulfilling role for
Ruby Bell. She was a member of and regular volunteer for the Lion’s
Club and actively attended church throughout her life.
Quilting remained a passion for Ruby Bell, providing her with a
creative outlet and hobby that drew in friends who also loved quilting.
Relatives and friends who received her quilts will be kept warm from her
efforts for years to come.
She leaves to mourn a son, Dwight L. Seaman and his wife Betty of
Madison, Mississippi, grandson Travis Seaman and his wife Mallory of
Akron, Ohio, and granddaughter Jessica Beer and her husband Alexander of
Denver, Colorado. Great-grandchildren include Travis Seaman’s
children, Saffron, Benjamin and Robert.
Family members partaking in mourning Ruby’s passing include niece
Debra Schellinger of Stockton, KS, nephew Ron Eggers and his wife Dana
and their children of Parsons, KS, nephew Bob Eggers of Gilbert AZ,
niece Linda Eggers of Plainville, KS, nephew Richard Eggers of Parsons,
KS, nephew Gail Palmer and his wife Linda of Gilbert, AZ, niece Beverly
Medley of Hays, KS, niece Bonnie Wilson of Fairfax, VA, niece Judy
Blackwell and her husband George and their two sons of Fairfax, VA,
niece Janet Keller and her daughter and son in law of W. Melbourne, FL,
nephew “Mack” Palmer and family of Stockton, KS, nephew Ray Palmer and
family of Hays, KS, several other Palmer family nieces and far-flung
relatives along with many great-nieces and great-nephews including Linda
and Jim Reed and Sheri and Trinedy Henry. Family members gained from
her marriage to Bill Bedore include step-son Larry Bedore and his wife
Susan of Phillipsburg, KS, step-grandson Patrick Bedore and his family
of Stockton, KS, step-granddaughter Becky Bedore and her family of
Parker, CO, step-grandson Chris Hrabe and his family of Smith Center,
KS, step-granddaughter Joann Hrabe of Belleville, KS, and
step-granddaughter Shannon Schmidt and her family of Smith County, KS.
Those preceding her in death besides her husbands and her parents,
are two sisters, Florence Walker and her husband Floyd, and Betty Eggers
and her husband Edmond, two brothers, Junior Palmer and his wife Rita,
and Roy Lee Palmer and his wife Rosalee, two nephews, Dale Palmer and
Terry Eggers, four nieces, Shirley Desaire, Candra Shinn, Juanita Wallis
and Joyce Groft, and step-daughter Linda Hrabe and her husband Leonard.
Along with her many relatives, Ruby’s passing will be observed by a
host of lifelong friends and neighbors. Her family thanks the caring
staff at Solomon Valley Manor for years of care and attention.
A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at the
Stockton City Cemetery at 3 PM. Visitation will be on Friday from 2PM
until 8PM at the funeral home in Stockton.
Memorials are suggested to Solomon Valley Manor and may be sent in
care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, Stockton, KS
67669.