Funeral services will be at 4:30 pm Saturday at Crestwood Chapel for James Gurtis Sewell, 86, of Hokes Bluff, who died Wednesday. Reverend Steve Baccus will officiate. Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Mr. Sewell was a 1948 graduate of Hokes Bluff High and went on to attend two years at the University of Alabama. He served in the Korean Conflict from 1950-1952, as a medic in Germany. He was a member of Hokes Bluff 1st United Methodist Church for over 50 years. He served on the Hokes Bluff Water and Sewer Board from 1989 until 2013. He also served on the City Council for 4 years. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 82 for over 20 years and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. He retired from Siemens Allis with over 45 years of service and then worked with EMCO for an additional 11 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Avis Sewell.

He is survived by Mary Ann Sewell, wife of 58 years; daughters, Donna (Ray) Pickard, Susan (Jack) Thrasher (Hokes Bluff); son, James Mitchell Sewell (Chicago, IL); grandchildren, Rachel (Tim) Hyatt, Alex Pickard, Will Thrasher, Abby Thrasher ; great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Mary Elizabeth Hyatt all of Hokes Bluff; brother, Wayne (Joyce) Sewell, chosen grandson Riley Wilson and a host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hokes Bluff 1st United Methodist Church Dewey Ryan or Travis Marbut Scholarship fund.

Pallbearers will be Alex Pickard, Will Thrasher, Tim Hyatt, Ronnie League, Jeff Dilg, and Matthew Johnson.

Honorary Pallbearers are Dewey Ryan Sunday School Class and Hokes Bluff Water and Sewer Board.

Special thanks to Amedysis Hospice and Home Health and Northside Rehabilitation.

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 2:30-until the time of service.