- Date Of Birth: September 13, 1932
- Date Of Death: May 20, 2019
- State: Michigan
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Neal Allan Selbee on the morning of Monday, May 20th at the age of 86 years. Born on September 13, 1932 to Floyd and Salome Selbee, he was full of life, fun, and loved to joke around.
He was known for his love of food (especially pie). He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Norma Jean Whitesell (1998); and his younger brother, Hugh (2002). He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Mike (and Jo) Selbee, Susan (and David) O’Donnell, and Molly (and Mark) Reilly; his grandchildren, Emily (and Sandeep) Bidari, Carrie (and Kevin) Gibson, and Kenny Coburn (and Jacki Veldkamp). He is also survived by his great granddaughters, Caitlin, Abigail, and Clara.
He was blessed to fall in love twice, and is additionally loved and remembered by his second family through his long-time girlfriend Violet Birmingham (predeceased in 2015) and her family, Stephen ‘Bud’ Blink, Gary and Marie Birmingham, Brian, Eunice, and Jeffery Shive, Steven Murray and his daughter, Lyanna Jean, Corey and Suzy and their son, Timothy McMeekan, and Jim, Amber, Blake, Sam, and Joy Birmingham.
Affectionally known as Daddio, Gramps, Papa Neal, or the Scotts Hick, Neal grew up in Scotts (known back then as the East Lake area). He graduated from Climax-Scotts High School in 1951. He was fond of garage sale-ing, auctions, flea marketing, and old cars. He loved to tell jokes and Horace-the-horse stories. He married Norma in 1952. They lived together in Scotts, Michigan for their entire lives.
He spent most of his working career at Beach Products (later called Contempo), producing napkins by working the ink press. He always said he loved paper! He finally retired in 1997 in protest when the company took away the workers’ stools. He met Violet Mae Birmingham (Blett) in 1999 through his Widow & Widowers meetings. Neal had an amazing memory and could recall dates and events from decades past with ease. Each memory was paired with the car he drove at the time. He also cherished his beloved church family, which he joined in December 2000.
Neal was incredibly fond of the relationships he made, and care he and his loved ones received through Hospice and the Scotts Church.
