Vera Nicholson Sellers, 92, formerly of Hayes County, died July 11, 2012, at Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff.
Vera was born Feb. 8, 1920, at Kingsbridge, So Devon, England, the only child of Edgar and Annie I. (Rutherford) Nicholson. She received her education at Twyford School in Kingsbridge and then attended art school in Plymouth. In 1940 she left art school to care for her mother who was confined to bed with phlebitis for 9 months.
Vera then taught kindergarten for one year at South Petherwin in Cornwall. Teaching not being her “cup of tea,” she worked at the Air Ministry Headquarters near Launceston during WWII. In May 1944, she met a young American soldier, Erceil E. Sellers, at a reception and Army dance for soldiers. They were married on June 5, 1945, at Dodbrooke Church in Kingsbridge.
In March 1946, along with many other warbrides, Vera sailed on the E.B. Alexander to come to the United States. For 61 years, Erceil and Vera made their home, farming and ranching in Hayes County. To this union four children were born: Carol, Gary, Linda, and Diane.
Vera was a member of Evergreen Church, Sunday School teacher, and 4-H leader. In her retirement years she was a gifted artist who received art instruction from her valued friend and teacher, Don Dernovich. She also loved to garden and her many beautiful flower arrangements were enjoyed by friends and adorned her church. This interest also led to many friendships as a member of the local garden club.
In September 2007, Erceil and Vera moved to the Gering area to be near their daughter, Linda. Their final home was to the Western Nebraska Veterans Home in Scottsbluff. This gracious British lady will be greatly missed. One of her friends stated, “Everyone was drawn to Vera.”
Survivors include daughters, Carol (Steve) Barger, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Linda (Rich) Johnson, of Kimball; daughter-in-law, Patti Scott-Sellers, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son-in-law, Mike Alverson, of Meridian, Ida.; granddaughters, Crystal (Blake) Goodman, of Cave Creek, Ariz., Jackie (Jim) Palmer, of Phoenix, Ariz., Christina (Steve) Burroughs, of Phoenix, Ariz., Mitsi Sellers, of Washington D.C., Melanie (David) Knox, of North Hollywood, Calif., Cami (Jerrad) Buller, of Elkhorn, Kelli (Jarod) Whitehead, of Chandler, Ariz., and Jocelyn and Breanna Alverson, of Meridian, Ida.; great-grandchildren, Maddison and Taylor Goodman, Dakota, Natalie and Brooklyn Palmer, Gabriel and Amara Burroughs, David A. Knox III, and Craton Buller; sisters-in-law, Shirley Sellers, Marion Sellers, Esther Sellers, and Devona Sellers; brother-in-law, Orval Coykendall; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; in-laws, Leo and Pearl Sellers; son, Gary Sellers; daughter, Diane Alverson; granddaughter, Traci Jo Johnson; two sisters-in law and five brothers-in law.
A memorial is suggested to Camp Bethel, Wellfleet; Evergreen Union Church, Hayes County; or the Hayes County Historical Society.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 19, at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte, with burial at Ft. Mc Pherson National Cemetery, Maxwell.