Cordell Kaye Sele, 89, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Monday, March 8, 2021. He was born in Portland to Erling “Earl” Joseph and Ella Ovidia (Kjos) Sele. He grew up in Gary, Minnesota.

Cordell served as a heavy equipment mechanic in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 during the Korean War. He participated in a Veteran’s Special Honor trip to Washington DC in May 2015.

After being discharged from the Army, Cordell lived in Sweet Home until he moved to Wenatchee, Washington in 1966. He moved back to Sweet Home in the early 1970s. He worked as a farmer and in a plywood mill. He also worked in the Sweet Home and Wenatchee Post Offices. Later, he worked for Linn County as a heavy equipment operator.

Cordell was a member of Fir Lawn Lutheran in Sweet Home and Grace Lutheran in Wenatchee, Washington. He sang bass in school and church choirs. He played high school basketball. He loved horses. Cordell was a Teamster in 4H Wagon Train for ten years. He gave horse drawn hay rides, Pumpkin Patch rides, and Albany Historic Tours. He was a gifted horseman. He enjoyed “Mr. Fixit” projects and Square Dancing with Lorraine.

Cordell is survived by his partner, Lorraine Wright; children Michael Sele of Sweet Home, Karen Petersen of Portland, and Darby Sele Larson of Beaverton; siblings Ivadell Hummel of Lebanon and Nyla Kauffman of Albany; ten grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, James Sele and Bob (Alden) Sele, and sister, Ruth Tollefson.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 17th. Due to COVID restrictions and the lack of space to host all Cordell’s friends, the family requests that friends send memories, cards, or letters to the family in care of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel; 1443 Long St., Sweet Home, OR 97386. Memorial contributions can be made in Cordell’s memory to the Sweet Home VFW.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.