Serena Sue Seacat, formerly of East Hampton, died April 17 in Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Kansas. She was 79.
She was born July 6, 1944, in Larned, Kansas, the daughter of Russell Henry and Lois Marian (Chronic) Seacat. She graduated from Greensburg High School in 1962, and attended Kansas State University, Business College at Denver, Colorado, and The Actors Studio in New York City.
On February 8, 1983, she married George Ryan in Kona, Hawaii.
Seacat appeared on television in “General Hospital,” “One Life to Live,” “Ryan’s Hope” and “Beat The Clock.” She has lived in Greensburg, Loveland and Denver, Colorado, New York City, and East Hampton. She returned to Greensburg in 2016 after she and her husband retired.
She was a theatre arts educator and director for the East Hampton School District and resident director/performer for CTC Theatre Live. She performed on stage and directed over 100 plays and musicals.
Her passions were her family, tap dancing, her children’s theater program, Dramarama, cabaret singing, writing poetry and fiction and cruising on Royal Caribbean with her husband and classmate Barbara McElroy.
She was a member of the Greensburg Methodist Church and the Screen Actors Guild.
She will forever be remembered for her eternal love for her family, quick wit, her artistic nature, altruism and her luminous spirit, her family said.
She is survived by her husband; George Ryan; her son Devin Hoelscher & Ellen Collins-Hoelscher of East Hampton; daughter Shannan McMahon and her life partner, Robert Block, of Riverhead; six grandchildren, Taihe Hoelscher, Brody Hoelscher and his wife Holly, Kiefer Hoelscher, Dr. Michael and Amanda Miller, James and Jen Miller, Tucker and Melissa Miller; eight great-grandchildren, Aiden Hoelscher, Abby and Katie Miller, Hunter and Logan Miller, Neison, Juniper and Thoreau Miller; nephews Kevin Heftand his wife Kim, Steve Heft and his wife Kristi, and their families: niece Greta Seacat; and brother-in-law Thurn Hoffman. She was predeceased by her parents; two sisters, Sandra Seacat and Sherrell Heft; and a son-in-law, Kenneth McMahon.
Memorial graveside services and a celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, at Fairview Cemetery in Greensburg, with the Reverend Dennis Irwin presiding. A time of fellowship will follow at the Greensburg Methodist Church in Greensburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, the Twilight Theatre, and the Greensburg Methodist Church, all of Greensburg, in care of Fleener Funeral Home, PO Box 41, Greensburg, KS 67054, would be appreciated.
