June Gail Pickrel Sellman, age 94, passed quietly in her sleep on October 1, 2017. She is survived by five nieces, Corinne Thuline, Marcy Carroll, Elizabeth Johnson, Sharon Pickrel, and Diane Cude and three nephews, Michael Pickrel, Charles DeWitt, and Alan Sellman, as well as several grand nieces and nephews. She joins her husband of 50 years, Howard (Sam) Sellman, who died in 1997, as well as her parents, Victor T. Pickrel and Amy Hollingshead Pickrel and her brothers, James Pickrel and Jay DeWitt. She also joins her canine companion of recent years, Alphie.
June was born at home in Kanorado, Kansas on December 19, 1922. After she graduated from high school, she attended college in Kansas until an accident and months of recovery forced her to stop. At various times, she worked as a waitress and an office worker. During World War II, June followed her father and brother to the west coast to aid in the war effort. She met her future husband, also from Kanorado, at a soldiers’ dance and they married on May 30, 1947.
June and Sam were farmers in the Kanorado area until Sam’s retirement in the early 1980’s. June worked part time in the Kanorado Post Office for many years and then from 1966 to 1984 served as Postmaster in Kanorado and in Scott City, Kansas.
In a very full life, June played the organ and led the choir at Trinity Lutheran in Burlington, Colorado, took in a foster son, traveled extensively with her husband and after his death preferring small river cruises where she met and befriended people from all over the world. She celebrated happy hour religiously, danced, played golf and bridge (excelling at duplicate bridge), enjoyed operas and concerts, especially the three tenors, plays, especially comedies, read most funny and intelligent mysteries, dabbled in oil painting and grew a spectacular garden.
She has been a devoted friend to many, always ready to help, mentor and laugh though her friends knew she didn’t suffer fools lightly. She has been that aunt, the one you cannot wait to visit because she loves you so much and is so fun to be around.
June will be missed greatly by many people who are thankful she is peacefully at rest.
Condolences may be sent to 1041 Deveny St., Chico, CA 95928
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