Veda Jo Underwood Sellers passed away from Covid pneumonia Oct. 12, 2020 at Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas at the age of 94.
She was born Aug. 28, 1926. Her youth was spent in Denton, her adult life centered in Sulphur Springs, and her most senior 14 years resided in Waco.
Veda was preceded in death by her parents, Pickney Thomas and Jimmie Beatrice Strong Underwood; her husband of 65 years, Henry Grady Sellers; and their eldest son, Grady Charles Sellers.
Veda remained committed to her family and engaged in their lives until the very end. After being raised on a sheep farm outside Denton and graduating from North Texas Teachers College, she worked in Houston at Humble Oil. Returning to Houston via train after the Easter weekend in 1948, she met her future husband, Henry, and married a fast three and a half months later, Aug. 8 - a fact the family considers humorous. While being an organized person, Veda’s talents included being an excellent cook, a tidy seamstress and cross-stitcher and the cornerstone of family. She worked as office manager for Dr. Mark Miller, retiring at age 72. She remained Henry’s primary caretaker, as he suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, until his death in 2013. She actively practiced her deep faith in Jesus Christ, most notably at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs and through Community Bible Study. She showed incredible grace as she faced major life changes brought with age, including losing most of her vision to macular degeneration and moving to assisted living residence to be near family. Above all else, Veda will be remembered and missed for her positive attitude, kindness, engaging conversations threaded with genuine interest and unfaltering support.
Veda is survived by her children: Susan Sellers McGough and husband Marlon, Richard Thomas Sellers and wife Suzanne, Mary Jo Sellers Strickland and daughter-in-law Tricia Sellers; by her grandchildren: Nathan Sellers and his wife Bree, Lauren Sellers Simpson and her husband Steven, Paul Strickland and his wife Whitney, Jonathan Sellers and his wife Mandy, Bethany Sellers and Emma Strickland; by three great-grandchildren: Hannah Sellers, Natalie Sellers and Tabitha Simpson; and by her nephews: Don Hays and his wife Kim and Bob Hays.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at City Park Cemetery in Sulphur Springs with Richard Sellers officiating. Grandchildren and family spouses will serve as pallbearers. Veda was taken from her family in a precious few days by the Covid disease, and the family kindly insists on those attending the service both wear facial masks and practice social distancing.
Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs.
Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com