Youel Gene Sellers

Youel Gene Sellers was born January 4, 1925 in Anderson, Missouri to Minnie Belle Akers. When he was two years old his mother married Johnnie L. Thrutchley. Gene took his step-fathers name and grew up as his son. He was raised in Missouri and Oklahoma until 1937 when his family left Oklahoma to find work in Idaho. Although they found work, living conditions were deplorable and the family left to go back to Missouri. On the way back they were going to visit his step aunt in Eaton. They ran out of gas during a March snowstorm just north of Eaton. His dad found work on a farm and they settled in the area. He grew up and lived in rural Eaton until he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in December, 1945. Because of his bad eyesight he was placed in the Army motor pool. He was an MP for a time but became a chauffeur for a colonel and was stationed in Munich, Germany. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in December, 1948. On December 27, 1948 he married Doris Jean Russell in Anderson, Missouri. They came to Colorado on their honeymoon to meet his parents and arrived in Eaton just after the Blizzard of 1949. They were still on their honeymoon 62 years later. They made Evans their permanent home in October, 1952. Gene and Doris were recognized as Outstanding Volunteers for the City of Evans. Gene worked on farms in Eaton and Gilcrest. He worked a campaign at the sugar factory but suffered a severe burn to his foot. He worked for Shedds Tire and Recap Center in north Greeley for many years as a recapper and later as an over the road tire salesman. He was a farm tire repairman where he repaired tractor tires whether in the fields or corrals for Potato Growers Co-Op that became Consumers Oil Company that became Agland in Eaton and later in Greeley. He retired from Napa Parts in Greeley and worked part-time for Napa Parts in Platteville. Gene was a past member of the VFW Post 6624 where he served a term as commander and later VFW Post 2121. He was a member of the Cooties, a service organization of the VFW. He was honored to have served his country and was very active at one time in the VFW. He and Doris had volunteered many times and many years for the City of Evans and had been recognized as Outstanding Volunteers for the betterment of the city. He attended every city council meeting for a number of years until his health deteriorated. Gene passed away February 20, 2011 at Kenton Manor in Greeley, Colorado. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Doris; daughter and son-in-law E. Marlene and Brant Schuman; son Charles Leroy Sellers; grandchildren, Elisa and John Schuman, and Mandy Sellers; great-grandchildren Aria, Lily, Drew, Jonah and Ella Rose. Burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. A memorial service and reception will be held at VFW Post 6624 in Evans at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011. Donations can be sent to Marlene Schuman, 3403 W 34th St., Greeley, Co. 80634.