James Robert “JR/Jim” Sellers was born Dec. 7, 1927, to Roy Kenneth and Ethel Beatrice (Garrigus) Sellers in Terre Haute, Ind.

He died peacefully in Seattle Nov. 19, 2016.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sharron Gaye (Holdaway) Sellers; three children, Victoria (Michael) Carrick of Laramie, Wyo., R. James (Nancy) Sellers of Seattle and Debra G. (Bruce) Herbers of Memphis, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Following high school, he served in the Navy supporting destroyers during World War II in the Pacific theater. He returned to Terre Haute, where he married Sharron and graduated from Indiana State University.

He held a variety of accounting positions in Indianapolis and Chicago before moving to Memphis, Tenn., in 1960. He retired to Florida following 24 years in the hardwood lumber industry with Anderson Tully Company. The last 17 years were spent as the vice president of Milling Operations in Vicksburg. 

Gregarious and outgoing, he enjoyed playing golf and working in his woodshop but his greatest joy came from joking with family and friends while savoring a good cigar.