Bill N Sewell

Bill Sewell, 95, of Amarillo, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Celebration of Life Services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Saint Stephen Methodist Church, 4600 S. Western St., with Bob Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 6:00 PM Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.

Bill was born December 10, 1929 in Shamrock, Texas to Haskell and Nona Sewell. He graduated from Samnorwood High School in 1947, and went on to attend West Texas State University. He married Jody Moreman on July 8, 1950. Together, they would enjoy 70 years of marriage and raise two children Rusty and Sheryl.

Known in the banking community as a “banker’s banker”, Bill’s first experience in banking was in 1948 at the First National Bank of Amarillo, where he started out as an errand boy, delivering mail to various departments and other similar duties. He worked his way up the ladder from there, retiring in 1985 as the Senior Vice President of marketing and advertising. He then went on to become a Member Relations Consultant for the American Banking Association, retiring after 21 years of service in 2007. He was a member of several civic organizations that benefitted the citizens of Amarillo, including serving on the Texas State Technical Institute advisory board, as well as CASA. Bill was highly respected in the community. He was quoted as saying, “I loved meeting and serving people. Plus I got paid for making friends, the greatest asset one could have!” In 2011, Bill was presented with the Golden Bankers Award from the Texas Bankers Foundation for his 50 years in the banking industry.

Bill and Jody were charter members of Kingswood United Methodist Church, which was a huge part of their lives. Bill was chairman of the building committee when the church was built, and the couple served the Lord at that church for over 50 years. Later, they moved to Saint Stephen Methodist Church, where they made many wonderful friends.

Bill loved spending time outdoors, including playing golf and tennis. His favorite pastime was spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jody Sewell; a brother, Lowell Sewell; a sister, Stella Morris.

Survivors include a son, Russell “Rusty” Sewell and wife Vickie of Amarillo; a daughter, Sheryl Sewell Sooter and husband Gary of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Stacy Sewell Ketterlin and husband Brian, Summer Sewell, and Aric Sooter; four great-grandchildren, Michael Gowdy and wife, Payton, Evan Gowdy and wife Faith, Claire Ketterlin, and Britton Ketterlin; and one great-great-grandson, Arthur Gowdy.

The family suggests memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at www.stjude.org.