Julie Livesay

Dec. 13, 1944-Feb. 26, 2021

Julie Livesay was an educator, artist, golfer, tennis player, nature lover, game player, bird watcher, friend to animals and avid traveler. Most of all, she was a cherished wife, beloved stepmother, fun-loving Grandma and devoted friend. Julie passed away at the age of 76 on February 26, 2021, following several years of decline from dementia.

She was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to Frank and Julia Sellers and was the oldest of five children. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University and Westchester State University, and she earned her master’s degree from Villanova University.

Julie moved to Orlando in 1972 and began working for Orange County Public Schools. She was the county’s first school-based resource teacher for children with specific learning disabilities and eventually led the district-wide program. She also managed the preschool diagnostic and learning center, helped establish the bilingual special education program and served on numerous advisory committees, both locally and with the Florida Department of Education. She was an accomplished professional and received many awards, though she desired none. She humbly touched the lives of children and families through her work, and she took great joy in her service to others. She retired in 2002.

She is loved and dearly missed by her family – most of all her husband, Kelland (Kelly). For 43 years, he was happily married to his best friend and loving companion. They visited some of the most beautiful places in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and they spent many years enjoying their vacation home in the mountains of Lake Lure, North Carolina. For the last several years, he served as Julie’s patient and devoted caregiver, enabling her to remain at home despite the toll that dementia took on her life. In that time, they treasured the simple pleasures of life together – taking walks, holding hands, listening and dancing to music, and spending time with family.

Julie was a warm, loving and selfless parent and role model to her stepchildren, Jennifer Cramer (husband Michael) and Matt Livesay (wife Suzanne). She treasured her later role as Grandma to her grandchildren, Matt Livesay, Jr., Maggie Cramer and Macy Cramer, delighting in every opportunity to spend time with them from the day they were each born. Though so many of Julie’s memories faded away in recent years, she always knew her family, took joy in time with them and knew she was deeply loved.

Julie is also survived by her mother, Julia Sellers (Newtown Square, PA), sisters Nancy DeAngelis (Westchester, PA) and Sandy Archibald (New Haven, VT), brother Frank Sellers (Rosemont, PA), and her nieces and nephews. She was blessed with the love and affection of many close friends, one of whom was lifelong.

Julie is known for her family pancake recipe, vacation photo albums, love of dogs, heartwarming smile, chocolate chip Bundt cake, beautiful paintings and expert gardening. Her grandchildren treasure memories of her patiently playing with them for hours – teaching them card games and how to shuffle, building sand castles at St. Pete Beach, and enjoying chess and board games after school.

She will be remembered for her extraordinary kindness and compassion, uncommon humility, quiet generosity and ability to find beauty and joy in the world.

Julie was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, and her immediate family will honor her life in a private gathering. They hope that those who knew Julie will take a moment to remember her in their own way.

Those wishing to commemorate her life could make a contribution in Julie’s name to World Wildlife Fund at http://www.worldwildlife.org or Adults & Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities at https://www.acld.org/