DORIS (BROOK) SELLS
Our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Doris Brook Sells passed away December 29, 2015 after an extended illness.
She was born to George and Ida (Wold) Brook on July 31, 1931 at Downing, Wisconsin. Then later moving to the Connersville area, where she attended Peaceful Valley grade school, and was graduated from Boyceville High School in 1949. Right after graduation she started work in Madison, WI. She excelled in a competitive environment to become the head secretary of the Veterinary Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin. During that time she met her future husband Harold Ray Sells. They were married in Madison on Dec. 4, 1954. They then moved to Cookeville, Tenn. She quickly acclimated to the southern culture and was a secretary at the First Baptist Church in Cookeville as she helped her husband complete his college education. After his graduation they moved to Washington DC where their two sons were born. They then moved to Huntsville, AL in 1963 for her husband’s work on our Nations space program. Doris and Ray were original members of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, where she was a longtime member. She did many years of volunteer work, including helping establish, nurture and lead a Christian development program for young ladies (GAs) at Weatherly, where she was active in other activities including Sunday school and vacation bible school.
She also was engaged in being active with her sons, including Cub Scout den mother and an ever present volunteer at school enrichment programs. Doris was a homemaker “extraordinaire” outside the home. She helped start the South Parkway Homemakers club and served as county and then state president for the Alabama homemakers. She was honored as county homemaker woman of the year which recognized her numerous other volunteer activities as well. Doris was a loving mother to her two sons, Ray II, and James, and she loved her daughter-in-law Robin as a daughter.
She loved to cook and bake and work in her beautiful flowers. Doris loved and was loved by many friends whom the family will always cherish. Our spirits soar with the memories and fruits of Doris’ life. Surviving are her husband Ray, sons Ray II (Robin) of Huntsville, James of Washington, D.C. Grandsons Brian of Georgia and Jeff (Kaitlyn) of Tacoma, Wash. Sister Janice Norton of Ridgeland, brother Merlin (Anita) Brook of Connersville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Laverne, and Gerald (LindaL a sister Ruth (Marvin) Zimmerman, brother-in-law George Norton.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, January 19, at 11:00 a.m. at Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, Huntsville.