NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mr. Phillip Ian Sellers, 71, of North Adams died on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at the Berkshire medical Center in North Adams.

He was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, on September 21, 1948, a son of Audrey (Hathaway) Sellers and the late Harvey Sellers. He attended schools in Ohio and graduated from the Eastlake North High School. He then went on to earn his bachelors in fine arts from the Kansas City Art Institute, majoring in painting and pottery.

Phil was a passionate artist, loving husband, father and grandfather. Phil and his wife Gail ran River Hill Pottery for more than 42 years. They sold their beautiful woven clay baskets all over the United States. His favorite art projects were often collaborations with his grandchildren.

Phil was well known within North Adams for his active community roles. He was involved with North Adams Open Studios and founded Art About Town which, coordinated colorful crosswalk paintings. He served as director of the Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival and was one of the founders of the Adams Arts Advisory Board.

He was a communicant of the Parish of St. John Paul II at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams.

Besides his mother Audrey, 91, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, the former Gail A. Kolis, whom he married on November 26, 1970; his two sons, Jason Ian Sellers and his wife Nissa Kubly of Phoenix, Ariz., and Nathan Adam Sellers and his wife Julia of University Heights, Ohio; six grandchildren, Voss, Ravenna, James, Bradley, Nathan and Daniel; two brothers, Brian Sellers of Stow, Ohio, and Paul Sellers and his wife Jamie of Wendell, N.C..; sisters-in-law Ellen Clarkson of Massachusetts and Lynn Herlihy and her husband Jim of Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law William Kolis and his wife Donna of Ohio; his mother-in-law Mary Jane Kolis of Adams; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Harvey; father-in-law William Kolis; and brother-in-law David Clarkson.

Funeral notice: Due to current restrictions, there are no calling hours and a live memorial service will be held online July 27, 2020, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be directed towards an art charity or scholarship in Phil’s name. During this unusual time where personal contact is restricted, we are looking for the best ways to be together, to share, remember, and grieve.

Please participate with us:

1. Online Memorial Service: 9:30am Monday July, 27th, Service to start at 10am. Join via Zoom [also facebook live from Phil's account] https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3501048133  or by phone: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 350 104 8133

2. Share something with us: Create a short video to help us remember. Tribute.co/phil-sellers

3. Memorial Fund: It's not required, but If you want to send something to the family, in lieu of flowers, we ask that resources be directed to help the art community that Phil loved. https://www.gofundme.com/f/phil-sellers-memorial-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

*If you can't be with us online during the service, we will post pictures and videos afterward.

The PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, is in charge of arrangements. To leave a message of condolence, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com.