Iva Madeline Sellars

Iva Madeline Sellars, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2016 after a long battle with melanoma. She was born June 14, 1934 to Sam and Iva (Robertson) Patterson in Casa Grande, Arizona. After living there for a few years the family moved to Scottsdale where she and her six siblings enjoyed life immensely. She often spoke of stepping outside the house to pick fresh citrus fruit. She always loved animals and she had many pets, but her all-time favorite was Blossom, a Labrador Retriever.

After a few years in Scottsdale, Sam and Iva returned to Texas. In 1939 they moved to Uvalde where Madeline started school. Next they moved to Pipe Creek and then to Gatesville. After a short time there they moved to Georgetown where Madeline grew up and went to High School. While there she excelled in basketball under coaching legend Buddy Priest. In her senior year her team won the regional championship, which was as far as a team could advance in Texas at the time. Also, while in high school she excelled in horsemanship with her beloved Boots that she rode with a horseback square-dance club at various rodeos. After graduating from high school she attended Durham’s Business College in Austin where she met her future husband Milton. Up to her passing they were married 61 years. In her later years she became an avid Spurs and Cowboys fan, but above all she was a devout Christian.

Madeline and family moved to Bulverde in January, 1968 where she became secretary for the newly formed Bulverde Athletic League. She coached girls’ softball winning several league championships. In August, 1973 a group of people in the Bulverde area met with a mission committee from Dellview Baptist Church in San Antonio to form a mission in Bulverde which became Bulverde Baptist Church. Madeline and family became charter members and she taught Sunday School there for over 15 years.

After her children were near grown and with encouragement from friends, Madeline became a talented and well-known taxidermist in Bulverde. She obtained the rank of “Certified Excellent” by the National Taxidermist Association. She specialized in birds.

Madeline was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Milton and Marvin and two sisters Mitta McDonald and Marie Wiley. She is survived by her husband of Bulverde, two sons, Andy and his wife Beth of Bulverde and Danny of Houston, two grandchildren, Chelsea and fiancé Matt of San Antonio and Garrett of Bulverde, sister Mildred McClellan of Gatesville, brother Bart Patterson and his wife Judy of Horseshoe Bay, sister-in-law Kay Patterson of Georgetown and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by her best pals of 48 years Joan Bass of Bulverde and Gay Morgan formerly of Bulverde, plus dear friends of Sand Branch Baptist Church Kay Babineaux, Sallie Erwin, Linda Reed, Carolyn Sparks and Brenda Walton. Other dear friends at Bulverde who were so gracious and helpful during her illness are Joy Baker, Karen Flournoy, MeMe Hill, Estella Rich and Hazel Smith plus care-giver Julie Rios.

Funeral service will be held at Bulverde Baptist Church on February 4 by the Rev. Richard Loser and Rev. Phil Flournoy presiding with burial service at Hazeldell Cemetery in Comanche Country with pallbearers Clay McClellan, Jeb McClellan, Mark Wiley, Guy Wiley, Glenn Patterson, Danny Turner, and with honorary pallbearers Greg Baenziger, Ken Jones and Gordon Rankin. Services under the direction of Zoeller Funeral Home of New Braunfels.

Arrangements under the direction of Zoeller Funeral Home, New Braunfels, TX.