William C. Sellars

Bill passed away at his home, unexpectedly on Dec 7th at the age of 79.

He was born in Dearborn, Missouri on June 18th, 1938, to Elmer William and Clara Othilda Sellars.  He was their first child, but he was soon joined by Beverly Ann and Robert Elmer.

They moved to the Portland area where he attended Vernon Elementary School and Jefferson High School and lived there for several years before his dads job took them to Hood River, where Bill graduated from Hood River High School in 1956.  That same year he elisted in the US Navy.  He served until 1962.  He was one of the servicemen who saw a nuclear explosion as part of his training, he always said he swore he could see the bones in his hand when it went off, even though they were all facing the opposite way.  He had a couple life long friends, Bob Denney,  from his time in Hood River and the Navy and Len McCracken whom he had known since grade school.

After he left the Navy, he came back to the Portland area where his parents had returned to live.  He worked in the baking industry with his dad for awhile, then went to work for Safeway Bakery in Clackamas, OR.  He retired from there in 2000.  After he retired, he enjoyed one of his favorite pastimes of golfing, putting in many hours on the local courses.  He also traveled to see his Mom and Dads family members who lived all across the states.  He liked to take in almost every new movie that came out and had to have his popcorn while watching them.  He enjoyed the company of his long time friends and eating at his favorite restaurants.

Bill married Carol in 1965, and together they had three children, William Scott, Carol Nichole (Nikki), and Matthew Wayne.  He later married Laurie in 1978, and they had two children, Justin Lamonte and Spencer Lee.   His kids were everything to him and he loved them dearly, and when his grandchildren came along he loved them more.  He loved to give them the "gotchas" and make them laugh.

He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.  He is survived by his 5 children, Bill, Nikki (and her husband Dana McKee), Matt, Justin (and his wife Virginia), and Spencer.  His grand children, Matt, Bri, Billy, Jackson, Benjamin, Samuel, and one on the way, due in July.  His sister, Bev and her husband Bruce McFarlane and his brother Bob. He was preceeded in death by his two grandsons, Tanner and Taylor McKee.

A service for family and friends will be at Willamette National Cemetery on December 20th at 11:00 am and there will be a celebration of Bill’s life and gathering of friends and family at Stanley’s Corner at 12:30 following the service.