Carl Ray Sellers

Carl Ray Sellers, age 88, of Fairy, Texas passed away peacefully on the morning of August 16, 2011 with his children at his side. Born on October 15, 1922 in Lanham, Texas to Norman S. and Cora Elizabeth (Mayhew) Sellers, he was their seventh of ten children. He was preceded in death by the love of his life and his wife of 64 years, Jimmie Charlene Sellers, and one son Gary Melvin Sellers, November 23, 1954, who passed away at birth. Also preceding him are his parents and seven of ten siblings, Stella, Maggie, Dewey, Frank, Annie and Norma. He is survived by his two wonderful sisters Prudence Jones and Joy Wilson, as well as his children Carolyn Turner and husband Ray, Jimmy Sellers and wife Diane, and Janice Fisk and husband Bob, all of his six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear family friends.

Carl served his country, from 1944-1946 in Europe, as a Sergeant in the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) in the United States Army, in the field and as a guard at the Nuremberg Trials during WWII. He continued his military service back home through the Iredell VFW Post 8559, where he gathered with his fellow veterans to help the community for more than 60 years. He cared for the Fairy Cemetery for 50 years watching over family and friends and placing flags upon the resting places of veterans every Memorial and Veterans Day. He labored for his country and family as a farmer and rancher all of his life, providing nourishment to our bodies and souls, and received an Honorary Chapter Farmer from the FFA in 1964. To his neighbors and community he served as a carpenter and a steady shoulder to lean on whenever needed. Those who were children at the Fairy School would remember him as the school bus driver, custodian and school trustee. Along with his relatives every year, he ensured that the Sellers Family Reunion carried on, as his father wished.

He would tell you though, that his most important accomplishment in life was his family. On June 6, 1942 he married Jimmie Charlene Richardson in Crawford, Texas and they settled in Fairy after he returned from Europe, where they raised their family and lived all of their lives. They travelled far and wide in their travel trailer visiting old army buddies and see the sights, but it was Fairy, where Charlene’s Richardson family settled nearly 130 years ago, that was home. It was there on the family farm, where Charlene was born in 1927, that they shared their lives and opened the hearts of family and friends with kindness and generosity. It was there that the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered every Thanksgiving and Christmas, they entertained friends playing dominoes and other games, provided the best meals, laughed, cried, loved and worked. Their impact on the lives of others is and will be felt deeply for many years to come.

The family of Carl Sellers invites friends and the community to celebrate his life Wednesday evening, August 17th, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in Hamilton, Texas at the Riley Funeral Home, 402 West Main. Services for him will begin at the Riley Funeral Home at 3:00 PM Thursday, August 18th. Carl will be laid to rest beside his wife and among family and friends, in the Fairy Cemetery.