Franklin Corwin Sellars

Franklin Corwin "Frank" Sellars Jr., 82, of Gearhart, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, in Seaside.

He was born Jan. 14, 1929, in Ritzville, Wash., to Franklin Corwin Sellars Sr. and Helena Mildred Clodius.

After losing his father at an early age, he was raised by his mother during the Depression, and worked at restaurants and odd jobs.

He was educated in Ritzville, transferring to North Central High School in Spokane, Wash., his senior year, where he graduated.

On July 1, 1949, he married his high school sweetheart, Emogene Grace "Emie" Reimann at Queen Ann Lutheran Church in Seattle. She survives, residing in Gearhart.

Mr. Sellars first worked at Boeing, but soon moved back to Spokane where he began a career in retail management at Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and Kmart, eventually moving into real estate investment. After retiring, he moved to Gearhart in 1976. He and his wife had always vacationed on the Oregon Coast.

In Deer Park, Wash., he was active in his church, and was involved with the Spokane Civic Theater and Spokane Junior Club. He served on the board of directors of Inland Power and Light Credit Union, and as vice president of the real estate investment group and DF and S Investments. In Gearhart, he became involved with the Seaside Assembly of God Church, Kiwanis, the Seaside Museum and Astoria's Uppertown Firefighters Museum.

Family members said he he had a vast knowledge of collectibles and was an avid collector of many things, but his passion was carnival glass. They said he never turned away a stray animal.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Kathie Sellars of Nehalem; two daughters and sons-in-law, Denise and Don Knight of Gresham and Angela and Jim Waddell of Warrenton; six grandchildren, Trevor Sellars and his wife, Heike, of Gearhart, Alena Giusto of Gresham, Katie Sellars of Seaside, Clayton Sellars of Nehalem, Ashlee DellaFranca of Warrenton and Joshua Valdes of Puyallup, Wash.; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Seaside Assembly of God Church, 540 S. Holladay Drive in Seaside. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Clatsop County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 622, Warrenton, OR 97146.

Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com