County of memorial: Howard County
Location of memorial: Church St. & Morrison St., NE Corner, Fayette
Plaque Text:
IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF
R. KENNETH SEWARD
1929 - 1980
CENTRAL B.M. 1951
AND
NANCY HEITMAN SEWARD
1930 - 2003
CENTRAL B.M.E. 1952
DIRECTOR OF BANDS
CENTRAL METHODIST COLLEGE
1964 - 1966
MAY 1, 2004
Raymond K. Seward, was married to Nancy Heitmann. They moved together and worked together.
"Nancy Seward, 73, Richmond, MO, died November 9, 2003, at her son's home in Liberty, MO.
Mrs. Seward was a band director for 38 years, having taught in Leavenworth, Excelsior Springs, Ruskin, Stet, Richmond and Polo High Schools and Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO.
The Ruskin High School Band performed in the 1960 Tournament of Roses Parade. Additionally, the Richmond High School Band won the second place trophy at the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, in 1981.
She has served as an instrumental music clinician and adjudicator throughout the Midwest and in Canada. She has composed 38 published works for concert band. Her compositions appear on the approved music contest list of many states and in Japan. She was a member of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, Women Band Directors International, Music Educators National Conference, National Federation Interscholastic Music Association, Missouri Music Educators' Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, Missouri Women Band Directors Association, Midwest Clarinet Society, Phi Beta Music Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu honorary music fraternity and Sigma Epsilon Pi honorary scholastic fraternity.
She was a member of All-Morton-Watkins Chapter of D.A.R. and past president of the Richmond Branch of the American Association of University Women. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Richmond. She received a Bachelor of Music Education cum laude from Central Methodist College, Fayette, MO, and did graduate work at the University of Michigan, the University of Missouri, Columbia and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Central Methodist College awarded her their Distinguished Alumni Citation in 1978.
She was inducted into the Missouri Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 1993. She is listed in Norman E. Smith's "Program Notes for Band," William H. Rehrig's "The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music," Marquis' "Who's Who of American Women in 2000 and 2001, "Outstanding People of the Twentieth Century," Robert John Garland, "Who's Who in America" in 2002 and 2004, "Who's Who in the World" and "2000 Outstanding Musicians in the 20th Century."
She was born in Henryetta, OK, August 9, 1930, to Albert L. and Grace Lillian (Wood) Heitman, grew up in Lincoln, IL, and has lived in Richmond since 1966. She married R. Kenneth Seward, August 21, 1952, who preceded her in death on December 6, 1980.
Survivors include Steven Seward of Liberty, MO, who is Principal Tuba in the Kansas City Symphony, and Lynn Fryer, Operations Chief of the Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and her husband, Hal, of the Navy Band's Public Affairs Office." ~ Published by Kansas City Star on Nov. 11, 2003; found on legacy