Beloved former Bend teacher remembered

A couple of dozen people gathered at R.E. Jewell Elementary School Saturday afternoon to remember a beloved teacher.

Long-time Bend resident and former 25-year Jewell Elementary teacher Arlie Seems passed away Wednesday at the age of 62.

He endured a long battle with a disease giving him severe liver problems.

The crowd gathered Sunday at Seems Baseball Field for a brief ceremony to release dozens of balloons.

A game of baseball was played afterward in his honor.

Former students say he always played baseball and football with students at lunch.

“I wished every teacher after Arlie was Arlie, but there’s only one Arlie,” said former student Matt Chase. “Every single lunch, for 30 minutes we’d come out during the spring and play baseball, and he pitched every single game.”

Seems graduated from Bend High School.