Chelsea, Vermont Sky Lee Merten Seace (55) died September 7th, 2016. She was brush hogging on a warm, beautiful autumn day with her trusty companion Tiegan at her side when her tractor overturned causing her death.
Sky was born in Newberg, Oregon to Raymond and Elaine Merten. Sky was raised in St. Paul, Oregon. She graduated St. Paul High School and attended classes at Limm-Benton and Chemeketa Community Colleges. Sky was very proud of her 15 years of service with the United States Navy specializing in shipboard interior communications where she was in charge of maintaining navigational, alarm and telephone systems. She was awarded numerous medals and ribbons throughout her Navy career including Kuwait Liberation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, 3 Good Conduct Medals, and Southwest Asia Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Navy "E" ribbons. Sky was medically discharged from the Navy when the Navy found during a reenlistment physical, she had retinitis pigmentosa, a rare eye disease that leads to blindness. Sky was honorably discharged from military service in 1999.
Sky met Bryon Seace while he was serving in the US Navy, stationed in San Diego. They became fast friends and following his retirement in 2003, they returned to Bryon's home state of Vermont, where they were married on October 14, 2003. They made their home at "The Ohana Ranch" on land in Chelsea / Washington , VT near Bryon's family. Sky loved the land and all of its bounty. She would pick sun ripened berries and make pies, apples for crisp and enjoyed working their property; it gave her peace, happiness and contentment. Sky really loved nature and the outdoors. She also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and riding her motorcycle "Big Red".
Sky served as a board member on the Vermont Council of the Blind and was active in a variety of support and activity groups. She had a love for learning and a curious mind always wanting to know more. She had a quiet, sensitive soul and generous, kind heart.
Sky was preceded in death by her mother whom Sky cared for in the months that preceded her mother's death in 2015. This experience meant a lot to Sky.
She is survived by her husband Bryon, companion dog, Tiegan, her adoptive dad since the age of 17, Richard Newberg. A daughter Johna, son in law Kurt, and grandsons Lincoln and Miles Slagle of Forney, Texas.
She also leaves her loving aunts Lynn and Peggy Endicott and Maxine Buie., along with her cousins and second cousins who all live in the state of Oregon. They had a very special close bond and always had such good times together.
A celebration of Sky's life will be held Sunday, September 25, at 1:00 PM at 118 Edwards Road, Chelsea, VT 05038
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given her name to the Vermont Council of the Blind, c/o Carol Ann Richman, 15 Yandow Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403