Growing up on a farm, Stanley was expected to help in the fields. As a result, he left school near the end of grade school to work full-time with his Dad. However, he was an avid reader, and his math skills far surpassed those of many who had more formal education.

As a young man he worked at the Shawnee Milling Co. Later he farmed for a number of years. Learning the carpentry trade from his brother-in-law, Bob Wingo, he found his true life work. He became an independent carpenter/contractor, continuing in that occupation for the rest of his life.

Stanley was an active deacon, first at Highway Baptist Church, and later at First Baptist Church, Earlsboro. He also served on the Prairie Valley School Board. His generosity was known to many. Though never rich by the world's standards, he was the first to give to anyone who had a need. Stanley loved to sing, play games, and travel by car (a Sealock trait!).

He was a devoted husband and protector to Fanny and an exceptionally good father and grandfather.

- Janet Tate

"Years later I helped him on the threshing machine one year. And he was quite a...they called him Tack. It wasn't Stanley to me, it was Uncle Tack. He was little and sharp. Boy, he was strong, you know. I used to go with him when he sewed sacks up for Shawnee Milling Company. And I was just a youngster then. Boy, he'd sew them up with that old big needle, and he'd stack them on that two-wheeled dolly about six high with one hand. He'd catch one of them ears and just kick it, you know. He just kicked that sack up there. He was strong, man. He was quite a horse, your granddad, and a good egg with it. I remember Uncle Stanley though, in 1929 I guess it was, he started helping my dad carpenter. And they built that house down there north of Granddad Sealock's. I went by there one morning, going to school one Monday morning. The lumber yard had delivered a bunch of lumber out there, and it snowed that night on Sunday night. The next Monday morning I started to school. Me and Floyd and Louie, we was walking to school. I saw Dad and Stanley, they took their hammers and went down that lumber, raking the snow off, getting ready to build that house. They's tough back in that time, boy. My dad and Stanley were tough mean. They could do a lot of work. But he was one of the strongest little guys I've ever seen in my life, Stanley. He was really a horse."

- Carl Wingo, as told to Dane Tate in 1994

"I can think of a good thing Stanley used to do. We lived down on South Market, and it was a block from our house to Beard. And when he had a date with Fanny, why, he would take me with him to a little store on Beard Street that was just a block from the house. He'd take me there and buy me a sack of candy, and then I could walk home by myself after that, and he would go on the other way. He'd go on to see Fanny."

- Lillie Norman, as told to Dane Tate in 1994

After meeting Nigerian pastor/student, Reuben Oku, we were so impressed with his knowledge, abilities, and sense of humor. To say he was a devout Christian is an understatement. He spent time in our home after becoming a member of FBC, Tecumseh. Since our Mom (Fanny Sealock) had been the first to introduce our family to hosting foreign students for meals and other special times, she and Dad (Stanley Sealock) were usually invited when we had Reuben at our house. Somewhere along the way, Reuben began mentioning that he needed to buy a car so he would have transportation to go on preaching engagements during the time he was at Oklahoma Baptist University. He indicated that as he worked part-time at the university he would be saving money to get a vehicle. He asked us to help watch for a good used car. Shortly thereafter he said he was ready to buy a car, in fact, he wanted to do so right away. He stated that he had $40 saved to buy one. Trying not to laugh, both Dad and Lee told him that he would not be able to get a car that would run for that amount. That was in the 70's, and although autos were not as expensive then, it seemed ludicrous to us that you could buy one for only $40. When they tried to redirect his thinking, he would state," But $40 is what I have to spend and the Lord will help me find one." Secretly, we would talk about his wish, and hope that someone didn't take advantage of a Nigerian student. It seemed that he was so determined that he would find one we wished we could produce one by some miracle. None of us were financially in position to buy him a dependable vehicle, not to mention the cost of insurance, fuel, upkeep, tires, etc. At some point he announced that he had his car located and would bring it out to our house. He arrived some time later in an old, light green Plymouth. Though it was probably twenty years old, or more; it didn't look so good, but it did run! In fact, the men were impressed with how it purred right along. When Lee mentioned that they should check the oil, Reuben's reply was to ask where it was! Again, Reuben was at our table for a Sunday dinner--Dad and Mom also being present. Lee suggested Reuben tell Dad (Stanley) about the car. The story was told with Reuben giving the Lord the credit for helping him get the car he needed for $40. Being the generous man that he was, Dad pulled out his billfold and laid two twenty dollar bills beside Reuben's plate and said, "I'll just buy your car." Reuben looked both confused and startled, not understanding that Dad wished to give him the money he'd spent on the car. Nigerians are very respectful of their elders. He did not want to part with the car that the Lord had provided, neither did he feel he could deny my Dad's request. It was after a good bit of explaining and reassurance that Dad was able to convince Reuben that he was to keep the money and the car. A postscript to the car story: After another year at OBU, Reuben elected to go to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for a year of additional educational training. The Plymouth went to Seminary, too. After some months, the "$40 car" croaked alongside a freeway as Reuben was returning from a speaking engagement. True to his faith, he did not ask for help, but prayed that God would provide a suitable vehicle to last while he finished at the Seminary. Not many days had gone by when he received a phone call from a pastor friend in Oklahoma City. His church (OKC, Trinity) had given their pastor a gift-- a new car to replace his high-mileage station wagon. He wondered if Reuben could use his wagon? It was no surprise to Reuben, but a definite praise. He'd left a large trunk in storage at our house, since it would not fit in the little Plymouth. It was full of books, teaching supplies, and memorabilia from OBU that he would ultimately ship back to Nigeria. He set a time to come get the trunk at our home in Tecumseh. We need not have worried about whether the trunk would fit in the God-given wagon. It did very well--with less than an inch to spare in every direction!

Janet Tate, December, 2008