Joy F. Seed

Joy F. Seed, 82, longtime Ellensburg resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima. She will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at the IOOF Cemetery in Tumwater.

Joy was born on April 7, 1943, the youngest of four children (and the only girl) born to Harold & Alice (Hurd) Wells. She grew up in the Tumwater area and graduated from high school there in 1961.

Joy met the love of her life, Tom Seed, at a Thurston County Sheriff’s Posse function. Both were previously married and had children - and it was that common life experience that led them to begin dating. On February 16, 1971 they were married and brought everyone together to make one large modern Brady Bunch family.

Joy worked for many years as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service until her retirement in the late 1980’s. In 1991, she and Tom moved to the Fairview area of Ellensburg and Joy took up a second career at Bi-Mart, working as a department manager for the drug and clothing department until her “second retirement" in the early 2010’s.

Joy was a natural caregiver and was a mother not only to her children, but to many of her children’s friends who also called her “mom” . She remained close with many of these “bonus kids” over the years. She was an active 4-H leader when her kids were younger and spent many hours with them raising and training horses. She also loved gardening - in her younger years it was a full vegetable garden and in her later years she loved tending to her many flowers.

Joy will also be fondly remembered by her grandchildren as being the “best grandma in the world” - she loved every single one of them! Coming to visit was always a wonderful experience and it was made better if Joy made her famous potato salad or spaghetti.

Joy is survived by her children Kim, Sherri, Allen, Lora and Jim; grandchildren Ashana, Lexi, Riley, Blake and Kylah; as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and three brothers.

Memorial contributions in Joy’s honor are suggested to the Spirit Therapuit Riding Center, PO Box 953, Ellensburg, WA 98926

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com