Ruth Ellen Sellers

January 18, 1938 - September 21, 2011

She is survived by her sister, Darlene Porter and nieces, Veronica, Samantha and Alexandra of Long Beach.

Ruth can be remembered best for her undying love to help and care for animals in need. She had a special place in her heart for cats.

She was a tough lady thoroughout her battle with cancer over 17 years which ended this past Wednesday.

Her final resting place is at Westminster Memorial Park in the Mausoleum of Eternal Light.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wildlife Waystation, 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd, Van Nuys, CA.

Ruth Ellen Porter Sellers

A Sister Remembered

When I was born Ruth was already out of the house and married. I was quite a surprise not just to our parents, but Ruth too. She had been an only child forever and now here was this crying baby on the scene.

Having a sister 21 years older presented a problem at times in certain situations when our mother was along. I remember mother having a birthday party when I was very young, probably about 4 and going out to a restaurant (Curry’s Santa Fe). When it came time for mom to receive the dessert with a candle the waitress said to me “you don’t mind if your grandma has a bite first?” We’ll everyone roared, except me, I didn’t get the joke.

As I grew older and in grade school I remember Ruth coming by for dinner during the week. She always wanted me to be a young lady, but much to her chagrin I was a tom-boy. I was always in jeans, sneakers and usually stinky. I made her crazy.

When I was about 9, Ruth enrolled me in roller skating lessons. It was pretty fun, but I never had the passion that she did for skating. Ruth was accomplished both in roller and ice skating. I remember one time going with her to a competition where she was judging. Pretty impressive.

I remember Ruth when I was a pre-teen as very pretty and I was very proud to have an older sister as she. I remember visiting her at the Harbor Dept in Long Beach from time to time with mom. I remember eating in the cafeteria and thinking what a treat that was.

Now, anyone who knows Ruth understands that kitties have a special place in her heart. In the 60’s she had Mr. Sanders, My Sin, Pai Wakett, and Freddie. She also was a surrogate mom to kiddies dumped down at the Harbor Dept. She feed them daily without a miss.

When I became a teenager in the 70s, I was still pretty much not what Ruth thought was a lady should dress like. My attire was pretty funky looking back. Ruth always said I should where dresses, hose and heels. I remember one time she came by for dinner and I decided to punk her by walking into the kitchen in about the ugliest dress I could find, ruined hose and broken down shoes. Ruth said to me “Well, you still look better in that than jeans”... We did have a big generation gap.

One word of wisdom that Ruth did give to me as a teenage was to get an education. She said take all the math, history and english you can, do well and go to college. Ruth had aspired to be a veterinarian her senior year in high school, but when she went to her counselor at Poli High she was told forget it and that she had waited too long to take the right courses to be accepted. Ruth finished about 1 semester at LBCC before joining the steno pool. She was regretful she did not pursue her dream.

In 1980, Ruth married Lee Sellers. He was 15 years her senior but it seems like a match. Both of them worked for the Harbor Dept, but Ruth resigned shortly after the marriage. Lee and Ruth established a business called “Pacific Coast Consultants” and their clients included ports up and down the pacific coast. The business was successful for about 8 years. At that time Lee started not to feel well and jobs became less frequent over the next 2 years. In 1990, Lee was diagnosed with Lymphoma and died 2 months after diagnosis. Ruth was devastated and truly never regained any zeal for living after that.

Fortunately, Ruth found solis in her pets and animal societies. She sponsored many organizations to a fault. She put animals before her self.

Ruth received a very worrisome diagnosis herself in 1995 – breast cancer. She had surgery and chemo. Our mother was still alive and offered her support as she had been a breast cancer survivor back in 1961. However, Ruth’s cancer was much more invasive and difficult to treat. She never was cancer free enduring years of chemo, radiation and more surgeries.

When I remember Ruth I remember a distant person. To put it into Ruth own words “we are like two only children”. We both were raised very differently; she had a very stern, structured up bringing with many duties and expectations. I wasn’t held to the same chores or responsibilities. I was a laid back, lazy kid. It’s a wonder we ever got along.

The moral of this story is it’s never too late to connect. During the past 8 months Ruth and I established love for each other as sisters and buried the hatchet. I visited her almost daily at the nursing home and took care of her pets and estate. I offered her blessings, prayer and love on her death bed and she told me that she was blessed to have me as her sister.

Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary ~FD1030, Westminster, CA.