Shirley J. Sellari

Mrs. Shirley June Sellari, age 94, of Brownsville Tennessee, passed away the morning of Thursday, September 12th, 2024, at the Brownsville Hospital, in Brownsville, Tennessee. 

Known by many as “Miss Shirley”, Shirley Sellari was the daughter of the late Walter Lee Frady and the late Dealy Tims Frady. She was born in Auvergne Arkansas near Newport on July 1st, 1930, and lived there during her early childhood until the family moved to Brownsville, Tennessee. Brownsville became her hometown and remained so for the rest of her life. She often reminded others of the family who moved away that there was nothing like living in a small town. 

Shirley graduated from Haywood High School and shortly after, married her high school sweetheart, Ben Louis Sellari, on July 25th, 1948. Thus began a life journey together of 46 years until the passing of Louis on December 5th, 1994. During those 46 years, “Miss Shirley” and “Mr. Louis” worked together as a team building successful businesses and raising a small family. Shortly after their marriage, they built a home out on the old Ripley Highway just inside the city limits which still stands today. It was at this home, in December of 1956, they were blessed with a son, Ben Louis Sellari Jr. 

In the beginning, Shirley and Louis made a living running an ESSO (now the Exxon company) gas station at the corner of West Main and Grand Avenue. Little did they realize what the future would hold for them at this and adjacent locations. Drawing on their shared love of working with the public and Mr. Louis’ knack for cooking, some few years later, they rented the lot next to the gas station and built and operated a small drive-in restaurant called the Kream Kastle. Although starting small, strong skills in customer service and an unwavering adherence to quality, the restaurant grew. First a dining area was added which then promoted Shirley to get into cooking by making her famous spaghetti and country style meals. It became a normal routine for families to call in during the day to reserve a place to sit and a dinner for the evening without ever asking what the planned meal for the day was. It was just understood it would be good. 

By the early and mid-1960s, the Kream Kastle expanded again to add a bakery and a bar-b-que pit to cook pork shoulders and smoked meats. It was at this point Mr. Louis and Miss Shirley began producing donuts and brownies of several types. Here again the Kream Kastle saw an increase in clientele and awareness as people from neighboring cities would drive to Brownsville on the weekends to get these bakery goods. To this day, there are those that still remember and speak of the Kream Kastle food, pastries and “donut holes”. Another unique aspect of the Kream Kastle that is a direct reflection of Shirley and the life she led, is how many youths worked there throughout the years Miss Shirley and Mr. Louis ran the restaurant. For many, this was their first experience with responsibility and a strong work ethic, which was always on display from Shirley. It was said that Miss Shirley raised half the kids in Brownsville. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but a testimony to her love for children, her strong Christian beliefs and unquestionable work ethic. 

 All their hard work allowed them to purchase a colonial home that was originally built in 1857 that still stands today and was Shirley’s residence until her passing. The purchase of this home allowed her to pursue two of her lifelong passions, history, and antiques. There was nothing Shirley enjoyed more than travelling in the countryside and small surrounding towns looking for that next antique to add to her home. 

Even after Mr. Louis’s illness and passing, Shirley continued to work in local businesses holding permanent jobs into her eighties but always jobs serving and working with the public. This is a lasting testament to Shirley’s strong work ethic and love of working with the public. The example of her life touched so many for so long. The world seems a little askew in her absence.

Shirley was the sister of the late Walter Dixon Frady of Brownsville, the late Marcus Dean Frady of Brownsville, the late Bessie L. Frady Bolls of Brownsville, the late Margaret Frady Dobson of Nashville, and the late Betty Frady Drake of Covington. With her passing, all the immediate Frady family are now united in Christ. 

Shirley is survived by her son Ben L. Sellari Jr. and his wife LaVonne Sellari of Houston Texas, by her grandchildren Rachel R. Delsi and her husband Jose J. Delsi of Terra Haute, Indiana, Danielle Sellari and her fiancé Eric John Lopez of Georgetown, Texas, her great-grandchildren Aubrey G. Delsi and Gabriel J. Delsi of Terra Haute, Indiana, her nieces Elizabeth Malone of Jackson Tennessee,  Leda Carol Drake of Memphis Tennessee, and Ernesta Jane Poole-Lovell of Jackson, Tennessee, her cousins Nancy Metterses and Amy Hughey of Memphis, Tennessee, her nephews Patrick Sellari, Hunter Sellari, and Tommy Sellari all of Brownsville Tennessee, Ike Sellari of Jackson Tennessee, Vincent Sellari of Gainesville, Georgia, Paul Francis Poole of Franklin, Tennessee, and John Stickney Poole of Trinity, Alabama, her sister-in-law Hilda Sellari Poole of Milan Tennessee and numerous great nieces and great nephews. 

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, at the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville. The Rosary will begin after the visitation at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral mass will be Thursday, September 19th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Brownsville. The burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Brownsville, Tennessee. The Mass will be offered by Fr. Gabe Bouck. If preferred, in lieu of flowers, you may make donations to your favorite charity in “Miss Shirley’s” name. All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.