Ava Jane Sellers

Ava Goodwin Sellers née Tooley (1932-2021) was born In Eaton, Indiana. Beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend – we will remember Ava for her smile smile and her caring spirit.

She married her first love, Glen Goodwin and they resided in Kokomo, Indiana. Ava worked as the manager of Ladies Wear at J.C. Penney before becoming the manager of the Millinery department for Kmart in Kokomo. In 1972, they moved to Palmetto, Florida with their three children after Glen was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ava cared for him while working from home for her sister (Catherine Proper) as a secretary, bookkeeper, and dispatcher at Proper Paving. After his death, Ava became an integral part of the business working with her sister for many years. When Cathy became ill, Ava became her caregiver.

Ava met the second love of her life, William Sellers at a dance. While working and later caring for her sister, Ava also worked from home as the secretary, bookkeeper, and dispatcher for Sellers Leasing, the trucking company Bill started after he retired from the U.S. Navy. Ava liked to joke about marrying the boss.

She was immensely proud of Bill’s 24-year Naval career. He was Chief Storekeeper 1st Class with over 15 years on nuclear submarines. She was equally proud of the 15 years they worked together building Sellers Leasing with Ava taking care of the books while Bill drove one of their trucks until he retired at 75.

After selling the business, Ava and Bill split their time between their home in Palmetto and Bill’s family home in Wadesboro, North Carolina. They attended the First Baptist Church of Wadesboro and remained close friends with Bill’s former colleagues at Fleet Reserve. Ava and Bill enjoyed many happy hours with Bill’s friends from the Wadesboro High School Class of 1948 who accepted Ava as one of their own. They also enjoyed traveling and visited many states before Bill’s death in 2012.

Ava was preceded in death by the two great loves of her life, Glen and Bill, her parents, her brother Joe, her sister Cathy, her oldest daughter, Betty, and her grandson, Christian Joyce.

She is survived by her son Len (Carolyn) Goodwin of Parrish, daughters Frances Joyce of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kitty (Kevin) Boynton of Casselberry, Florida, Barbara Sellers and her partner Kerry of Orlando, Florida, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, a niece and a nephew, and wonderful friends such as Derrick Morris of North Carolina who was a trusted neighbor and helper to Ava and Bill.

Funeral arrangements by Groover Funeral Home

Viewing will be on November 30, 2021, from 5-6PM for Family and 6-8PM for Friends at Groover Funeral Home 1400 36th Avenue E., Ellenton, Florida 34222

The funeral will be held at Groover Funeral Home at 10:00AM on December 1, 2021

Burial will be at Sarasota National Cemetery 9810 State Rd. 72 Sarasota, Florida 34241 on December 1, 2021, at 12:30PM where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Bill.

Sarasota National Cemetery only allows one floral arrangement. It was Ava’s wish that in lieu of flowers, friends remember her with a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of her grandson, Christian.

Donations can be mailed to:

Muscular Dystrophy Association

WEB PO Box 97075

Washington, DC 20090-7075

Donate by phone at 1-888-HELP-MDA

Online donations: www.mda.donordrive.com