LACROSSE — Eugene Dale Sell died on July 2. Born on Aug. 10, 1929, in La Crosse, he was the son of Jacob and Mayme (Rickter) Sell. Gene attended school in La Crosse, graduating in 1947. In high school he excelled in all sports, especially in basketball and football. Upon graduation, Gene accepted a scholarship to Garden State College in Garden City. Upon leaving college, he took a job with Gross Drilling Co. of Eldorado, and in 1951, was sent to Pawhuska, Okla. for “six months work and never left.” He was married in 1951, to Patsy Brenton of Pawhuska and had three children, Janet Elaine Murnan (Arthur) of Skiatook, Okla., David Eugene Sell (Elizabeth) of Pawhuska, Okla. and Brenton Jacob Sell (Lind) of Shreveport, La. He married Patricia Hudson Wilson on Dec. 22, 1989, and became a very active influence in the lives of her children, Clay Stevenson Wilson (Polly) of Ponca City, Okla., Robert Paul Wilson of Tulsa, Okl., Christopher Dean Wilson (Susan) of Mounds, Okla. and Patricia Joyce Holley (Austin) of Dallas, Texas.
Gene’s “six months work” turned into a successful career in the oil and gas production industry. In addition to his business interests, he also served the community as City councilman and Mayor for 13 years, as president of The Pawhuska Golf and Country Club, as president of the Pawhuska High School Touchdown Club, as member of the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc., as well as being a very active member of the First United Methodist Church for many years.
Gene is survived by his devoted wife; his seven children; and eight grandchildren, Heather Murnan Warren of Melissa, Texas, Shelley Murnan Lampkin of Inola, Okla., Jacob Sell of Skiatook, Okla., Blake Sell of Ponca City, Okla., Ambra Starr of Oklahoma City, Okla., Riley Sell of Pawhuska, Okla., Christopher Haas of Shreveport, La., Hunter Lloyd of Shreveport, La., Coleman Wilson of Ponca City, Okla., Kyle Wilson of Ponca City, Okla., Courtney Holley of Dallas, Texas, Grant Wilson of Mounds, Okla., and Trent Holley of Dallas, Texas; and by 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on July 5, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pawhuska, Okla with Father Chris Daigle officiating.

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Aug. 10, 2014**