SELLENS, Arthur (Art) Merl

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ April 26, 2007 Arthur "Art" Merl Sellens of Vernon died in the Flagstaff Medical Center Tuesday, April 17, 2007, of complications associated with his recurring battle with cancer. Art was born Feb. 24, 1939, in Salina, Kan., to the late Merl E. and Florence Harmon Sellens. He grew up in Mission Bay, Calif., and spent summers working on the family farm in South Dakota. Art graduated from Lassen City College in 1961 as a gunsmith. After college, Arthur returned to San Diego, Calif., to pursue his gunsmith interests. Later he entered the aerospace industry as an assembler and mechanic, finally specializing in the repair and rebuild of gas turbine engines. Upon retirement from Sunstrand (previously Solar/Caterpillar), he relocated to Vernon where he was living his dream on five acres of open land. Art enjoyed the South Dakota farm life of his youth. He also was a collector of western memorabilia and firearms. He was always devoted to his canine "family," first Rex and then in later years, Freddie and Honey. He is survived by his sister, (Mary) Jane Atwater and her husband, Robert, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; two nieces, Deborah Jane Atwater and Julie Diane Atwater; and cousins in California and Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Pet Allies, P.O. Box 415, Show Low, AZ 85902 (www.petalliesaz.org) or your favorite charity.