Daniel Lyle Seaverns

Daniel Lyle Seaverns was born on October 23, 1952 in Michigan City, Indiana, the second of three sons to Fred and Myrle Seaverns. Dan breathed his last on April 3, 2024. He was 71 years old. He spent most of his youth in New Buffalo, Michigan where he attended the local public schools until his father's job transferred the family to Harrisonburg, Virginia, just in time for Dan's last year of high school. He was not happy about that. He graduated from Broadway High School in 1970 and enrolled as a day student at James Madison University (then called Madison College) in Harrisonburg. He filled his free time with work in order to be able to pay for his tuition. He received not one thin dime from his parents for college. This wasn't a bone of contention for him, however. It instilled a great sense of pride in Dan and he felt it was a valuable experience, for which he was forever grateful. He met his future wife, Kathleen McCracken (Kathie), in December 1970, while driving her and her date to a Grand Funk Railroad concert. She fancied him and let it be known to others; word got around to Dan and he gave her a call. They hit it off and were married in April 1973. Upon his graduation from JMU in 1974, he pursued a Masters Degree in Hospital Administration at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He received said degree in 1976. Two children were born to Dan and Kathie; son Dustin Keith Seaverns, born in April 1976, and daughter Erin Kathleen Seaverns in March 1979. Dan spent 25 years working for Humana, moving the family to Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois and back to Florida. He left Humana in 2001 and joined Aetna in 2002 in Seattle, Washington. In 2007, he became the Aetna Network Manager for the state of Oregon and he and Kathie moved to Vancouver, Washington. He retired in 2015. Dan loved his family and he doted on his twin grandsons, providing them with Lego sets, surprise trips to Target on his own birthday to let them pick out presents for themselves, and a memorable sturgeon fishing trip near Hood River, Oregon. He loved to use his 3 (yes, 3) grills to make fantastic barbecue for the family and he was constantly investigating different cuts of meat, collecting recipes and perfecting his much loved 'Pa Burgers' for the grandsons. He loved living in the Pacific Northwest. He enjoyed researching his family history. He loved to surprise his loved ones and friends he cared about with unexpected gifts - this was his love language. He loved to fish. He loved to listen to bagpipes, old-time country music and the blues. He loved Monty Python and watching Doctor Who with Dustin. And he rooted for his beloved Chicago Cubs every year. At one point in his life, Dan bought himself a Harley Davidson motorcycle; something he'd always wanted, even though he'd never ridden a motorcycle, ever. He learned how, got Kathie to ride on the back with him and managed to keep his cool and carefully avoided a near catastrophe while riding the two of them on heavily-traveled Interstate 4 through Orlando, Florida. He saved both of their lives. Dan is survived by his wife Kathleen McCracken Seaverns, his son Dustin Keith Seaverns and daughter Erin Seaverns Case, her husband, Bernard E. Case and of course, his wonderful sweet grandsons, Nathaniel Edward Case and Malcolm Arthur Case, all living in Vancouver, Washington. He is also survived by his brother, Michael A. Seaverns and sister-in-law Rosemary Seaverns of Bridgewater, Virginia. Preceded in death is his brother David K. Seaverns. Additional surviving family includes sister-in-law Sharon Brown and brother-in-law, Richard Brown, both of Richmond Hill, Georgia, and brother-in-law L. A. McCracken III and sister-in-law Rebecca McCracken, both of Alexandria, Virginia. We don't know how we'll move on, but as Dan loved to say, "it's not optional." We will miss him terribly. Finally, Dan was a strong believer that no person, young or old, should go hungry. To anyone reading this obituary, a donation in his memory to the Clark County Food Bank in Vancouver, Washington, would be the absolute best way to honor him. Please visit their website at https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/dan Thank you!

Daniel Lyle Seaverns

October 23, 1952 - April 3, 2024