CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” TOWNE SELBY
3/11/52 – 9/2/19
A Life Saved By God’s Amazing Grace!
The following video was taken by Sis. Betsey Knox on September 2, 2012, recording Chris Selby’s testimony of Christ and his baptism in the Cook Inlet.
Brother Chris Selby, 67, of Ninilchik, AK, went home to be with his Lord Jesus on September 25th, 2019 at the Swedish ICU Hospital in Seattle, WA after suffering from liver and organ failure. Chris was born on March 11th, 1952 in Baltimore, MD to Harry Joseph (Joe) and Madelene Towne Selby.
Chris is survived by his brother, Charles (Chuck), and wife, Janet, of St. Michaels, MD; and his niece, Jennifer, and husband, Ted Sizemore of Delta, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, David.
Chris spent his early years in Kennebunkport, ME where his mother was born and raised, and where his grandfather was a grocer. When the family moved to Baltimore, MD, where Chris went to high school, he did not like city life, but enjoyed exploring the Chesapeake Bay area. Chris followed in his father’s footsteps as a master carpenter and gardener. He married his high school sweetheart, Connie Fetoe. They were married for about 15 years. Later he traveled through Europe and lived in England. He was married to Lisa Rowe of Cambridge, MD for a short time. When his friend, Randolph Murphy, who had a B&B in Ninilchik, invited Chris to travel to Alaska with him in June 2005, Chris told his family he was moving to Alaska. He felt at home in Alaska and enjoyed cooking on fishing and hunting boat trips with Tom and Aaron Mahoney. Lingcod fishing was his favorite. In 2009 he married Martesue Chapman of Ninilchik. In spite of Chris’ many talents, he had a life-long battle with alcohol until 2012 when he fell from the balcony of a house he was working on. When the paramedics found him, they were concerned he would not survive. He suffered a concussion and broken pelvis, but the Lord spared his life and touched his heart with a saving faith in the Lord Jesus. After Chris accepted God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, his drinking addiction ended. He became a new creature in Christ and the obvious change was apparent to all who knew him. He started attending Calvary Baptist Church and became a member after he made a public profession of his faith through baptism in Cook Inlet in September 2012. He loved reading his Bible and C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional. Chris was not at home in this modern age and was most comfortable in his wool pants, red long underwear and LL Bean low-cut leather/rubber mocs. He loved dogs and enjoyed taking care of Rob and Karen Haynes’ golden retrievers when they were traveling. He was part of their family since he lived in an apartment above their shop as he transformed their house into the home of their dreams. Chris delighted in special meals featuring his favorite foods, such as lamb. When he visited his long-time friend, David Kimmel, in MD, Chris looked forward to the dinners David prepared while he stayed in his cottage on Chesapeake Bay and worked on adding custom wood features to the interior of David’s boat, the Patty Ann. Chris will be greatly missed and remembered for: the beautiful things he made, and also for his very special garden that he shared with all, especially the sunflowers he grew for his friends and neighbors throughout the summer. As Chris would say, “It’s all of God’s grace.”
Chris Selby Memorial Service was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Ninilchik on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 3 p.m.
The audio player below contains the obituary reading and testimonies, followed by a brief message from Pastor Jon Cardwell from the text, Isaiah 62:12, “Sought Out.”
Recent Comments