John Frank Seymour

Our Creator took out his brush and painted a path with every color in the rainbow to bring our beloved son, brother, uncle, friend and artist, John, to his Heavenly home Wednesday, January 6, 2016. For those who were lucky enough to have known and loved John our souls are rejoicing that he has no more pain and suffering. Though, our hearts are breaking with the loss of his earthly spirit - a spirit that was so kind, gentle and pure. He truly loved us all...family, friends, work family, art mentors and teachers. This genuine love was from the depths of his soul. Yet, we all know that his true love was of his creations on canvas and paper. His heart and soul were poured into each unique piece of artwork and sculpture. He knew that his talent was a gift from God. He, like many artists before him, did not become rich and famous from their works. Yet, he opened his soul for us to take a glimpse. How many of us are willing to open and share the most intimate part of our being so that others can critique it? And what more could we ask for from one human being?
Thankfully, a piece of him will ""Live On"" every time we admire one of his creations. As penned on one of his pieces of fine art -""Far out beyond the edge...it all makes sense.""
John was an avid outdoorsman. He loved nature. Taught from an early age by his father, Raymond Seymour, fishing and hunting gave him the opportunity to enjoy the wondrous beauty of God's creations, up close and personal. John held many Gulf Coat rodeo records from Gautier to Long Beach. He broke the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo record in 1998 for large-mouth bass with a monster weighing in at 11 pounds 13 ounces.
John was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He started taking art classes in the seventh grade and continued until graduating from Gulfport High School in 1979. After high school, he studied with local artist Jean Carter.
John started his art career at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 1998, where he was recognized after only one semester with the ""Dusti Bongi"" award. He then was accepted and transferred to the prestigious Memphis College of Art. He was the first sophomore ever asked to paint the entrance doors of the college, an honor that was reserved for seniors. After one year of study at MCA, John was awarded the J. H. Hyde Scholarship for the remainder of his education. John earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the spring of 1992.
After returning to the Gulf Coast, John received vast recognition for his advertising work, including multiple ADDY awards - the ""Judges Choice Award"" in 1993, an ADDY in 2003 for ""Gumbo Recipe"", an ADDY in 2004 for ""Trick or Treat"" and in 2013 received the ""Judges Choice Award"" for an invitation he designed for Feed My Sheep, along with many others.
John's design work can be seen across the Coast and beyond. He turned his passion for art into a career as an art director and designer; designing for Ted (Karen) Riemann, Prime Time Agency, for the last 22 years. His logo and branding work includes Pure, the Palace Spa; the Palace Buffet; Z95.3 radio station; Half Shell Oyster House and the new City of Biloxi logo; along with many, many more. John was proud of his most recent design for his cousin's, FoFo Gilich, mayoral campaign.
Over the years John gave his personal collection of fine art to close friends and his loving family. For a man that was so gifted, he questioned whether he would ever be remembered for his art. But right before he left us, taking his passion of creating art with him, he told his sister, Julie, that ""there are pieces of art I created that I feel can compete with George Ohr and Walter Anderson."" Yes, John, you will be remembered through your creations!
John was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Frank and Regina (Fountain) Seymour; his maternal grandparents, Judge John Marshall and Marjorie (Lamas) Sekul: his beloved mother, Judith Catherine (Sekul) Seymour; his brother-in-law, John Bryan Richard; his nephew John Garrett (Ellis) Sheridan; his niece, Elizabeth Ann Seymour and his work partner for years Ray Dowdle.
He is survived by his father, Raymond C. Seymour; his adopted father, Ted (Karen) Reimann; his sister, Julie (Doyle) Seymour Ellis; his brother, Raymond (Joan) Seymour; his sister, Marjorie Seymour Richard; his childhood best friend Keith (Suzan) Williams; his nephew Griffin H. Sheridan; his nieces, Raven Richard McMillian, and Katherine (Katie Mae) Ellis; his great nieces, Kaleigh Jade Sheridan, and Ashlyn Seymour; his great nephew and niece, Quintin and Mariah McMillian; his work family, Shannon Bicket, Jacqueline Bordeaux and Kerry Stoddard; along with all the Seymour, Fountain, Sekul and Lamas cousins.
A celebration of John's life and creations will be held Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport.
An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.