Visitation:
Friday, November 15, 2024
1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
Service:
Friday, November 15, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
K8AOG Clear
James D Sellers of Willard Ohio officially signed off air November 4, 2024.
Born November 7, 1951 in Barberton, Ohio, he was the firstborn son and third child to Donald and Ruth Sellers, leading the way for the next three siblings.
Known to friends as Jim, or to his golfing buddies Jim Funk, Olin Dials, and Mike Elmlinger as “The Commissioner”, Jim inherited his father’s love of ham radio communications, even later in life taking over his Father’s call sign of K8AOG.
Jim’s first love was football and he played at Mount Union College while getting a BA in elementary education.
He took that degree and taught at Seneca East Schools for 17 years from 1974-1991. While at Seneca East, he coached wrestling, football, softball, and girls basketball. It was during this time at Seneca East when he found his true love, Mary Ann, who he married on September 23, 1978. Jim stepped into the marriage and stepped into the position of Dad to a girl, Heather. He and Mary Ann then extended the family to include a son, Kyle James in 1980, and then a daughter, Kerry-Beth Ruth, in 1984.
1978 was also the year that Jim joined the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Jim would continue this membership and function as a High School Track and Field Official and as an Ohio High School Baseball and Softball Official until his passing. Jim used officiating as a way to teach kids the importance of boundaries and rules, always with reasoning and never with shouting or aggressiveness.
Jim always loved being around children and teaching was exactly where he needed to be. The children in the schools loved to see what kind of zany tie “Mr. Sellers” was wearing each day. He lived to coach kids in sports and used sports and coaching to reinforce the importance of responsibility, empathy, ethics, and good sportsmanship.
While teaching, coaching, and officiating, he also continued his education and graduated with his master's degree from Ashland University in 1991. He then took a position with New London Local Schools as an Elementary School Principal and Athletic Director until he left in 1994 to move to the middle school level where he took a position as Assistant Middle School Principal at Bucyrus City Schools for 4 years. The next step in his career took him back to Ashland University where he earned his Superintendent Certification and a new position at Willard City Schools as Elementary Principal for the next 11 years. After retirement, although he never really retired, he took a role as Interim Principal at Norwalk Elementary School, served as a Counselor at South Central Schools, and as a Student Evaluator at Bowling Green State University.
Over the years, Jim received many awards for his work, including a NFHS Officials Association Official of the Year Award in 2008, Ohio Track & Field and Cross Country contributor award in 2013, OHSAA Mentorious award in 2013, and then again in 2020 for being a registered official for 40 years. He was so very honored when he found out he would be receiving the Joe Lenge Memorial Service Award in 2022. But even after all the awards and accolades, he would tell you the one thing he was most proud of was when the kids greeted him at school and would smile at him when they saw his face in the morning and peek at the tie of the day.
Proceeding him in death are his parents Donald and Ruth Sellers, his sister Marjean Sellers, and a nephew Jonathan Sellers.
Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Ann, his children Heather Jackson, Kyle Sellers (Sabrina), and Kerry-Beth Golliver (Josh). He is survived by his siblings Donna, Lynn, Darlene, and Dennis Sellers. He relished his role as Grampy to his grandchildren McCoy, Rider, and Becky Pepper-Jackson; Addison, Harper, and Finley Sellers; Jackson Golliver, and Barrett and Colt Shingleton. Jim is also survived by Mary Ann’s daughter, Colleen Schlea (Donald), and her children Brian Johnson, Garrett Johnson (Dana), and Elizabeth Jackson. He is survived by Mary Ann’s Great Grandchildren Calvin and Ophelia, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would be remiss if a proper thank you wasn’t given to Dr. Mohamed Akil who was the eternal flame of hope and comfort during these last few months. Also, we want to thank the entire ICU and 4 North staff of Firelands Hospital for bringing personalized care, loving humor, and dignity to our hero. Lastly, Twilight Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center should be honored to have the Nurses and STNA’s they have on staff. They made sure that Jim and the family had everything needed and they did it with compassion and abiding kindness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Seneca East Athletic Department and Willard City Schools Athletic Department.
Visitation will be held at Secor Funeral Home, Willard, Ohio, on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm with a memorial service at 7pm.
The family requests that all in attendance wear a wacky tie in remembrance of the principal who was always known by his students for his choice of neckwear.
Rest assured he will be looking down on us all as we celebrate his life with a Coca-Cola in one hand and a Reese’s Cup in the other while listening to the Doobie Brothers on repeat. Goodness knows he already had a taste of Heaven on earth with Pam and Dan’s homemade fudge. Here’s hoping that the menu in Heaven consists only of hamburgers and is completely void of vegetables. Online condolences can be left to James' family by visiting www.secorfuneralhomes.com