James Harold Schell

Burial with military honors was held on July 25th at Willamette National Cemetery for James Harold (Jim) Schell, who died on July 17th. He was born in Golden Valley, N.D. in 1932, the son of Albert and Nellie Hult Schell. He is survived by Margot, his wife of 51 years; a daughter, Kathleen Scott, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and her husband Colonel Terry Scott, USAF; son John F. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his wife Nancy Coffey, and their children, Anna and Henry; son James A. of Honolulu, his wife Miwa, and their daughters, Lina and Erika. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Packard, and brother, John A. Schell.

Dr. Schell graduated from Grant High School in 1950, Lewis and Clark College in 1954, and received advanced degrees from University of Oregon and Nova Southern University. A career educator, he started as a teacher of history and civics at Wilson and Grant High Schools of Portland, became a vice principal at Lincoln High, and served for ten years as the principal at Lakeridge High in Lake Oswego. He served as superintendent and assistant superintendent of Lake Oswego Schools from 1981 to 1992. At his retirement in 1992, Dr. Schell received an award for Outstanding Service to Lake Oswego in Education.

Dr. Schell was a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, commissioned in 1954 and advancing in rank to Colonel before his retirement from the Marine reserve in 1984. Dr. Schell was a member and past president of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers’ Association, Retired Officers’ Association, and Lake Oswego Kiwanis, of which he was twice president.

James Schell enjoyed his retirement skiing, tending his rose garden, playing golf with friends, researching family genealogy, continuing his studies of American military and political history, and traveling abroad with Margot. Contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Doernbecher Children’s’ Hospital.