Isabel Schell's Obituary
Sarah Isabel Macauly Schell, 76, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. A Memorial Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018, from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. Memories will be shared at 5:00 p.m. by anyone who wishes to share. Friends and family are invited to the home of John and Kate Schell on Thursday, June 21, 2018, immediately following the visitation to celebrate the life of Isabel. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Friends of Perry Animal Shelter (FOPAS), 204 Kellwood Drive, Perry, Georgia 31069. Isabel was born in Lancaster, SC, and grew up in Columbia, SC. She graduated from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, with a Master’s Degree in Physical Education. During her senior year of college, she drove her roommate, Ginger Schell from Macon, GA, to Perry for an interview with the Houston County Board of Education. While waiting for Ginger, Isabel was offered a teaching job at Perry Junior High School, where she began teaching that fall. Ginger introduced Isabel to her uncle, James Schell, and he asked Isabel to marry him on their second date. The couple were blissfully in love, and welcomed a son, John, in 1967. Unfortunately, in 1970, James became ill and passed away. Isabel instantly became a single parent and poured her heart and soul into her child and her career. Isabel continued to teach P.E. in the same building for 31 years, even after Perry Jr. High was converted to Morningside Elementary School. Upon her retirement in 1995, Isabel worked at Ace Hardware in Perry while she was building her dream home in Dahlonega, to where she moved in 1997. She never returned to Perry until 3 years ago when she became too ill to care for herself. Isabel moved in with John and Kate, and they cared for her until she drew her very last breath. Isabel always enjoyed going to yard sales and estate sales. She searched for antiques to refinish and children’s pedal cars to restore. She loved her home in Dahlonega on the river and enjoyed having friends over to ride 4-wheelers, go canoeing and kayaking. Isabel treasured her friends and the life she made, and her greatest passion in life was her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, John D. and Lyllian Davis Macaulay; her beloved husband, James Schell; and a nephew, Stewart Clark. Left to cherish the memories they made with Isabel are her loving and devoted son and daughter-in-law, John and Kate Schell of Perry; her sisters, Becky Clark (Tony) of Dahlonega, and Katherine Bishop (Robert) of Harleyville, SC; a niece; two nephews; and two step-grandsons, Damon Orton and Scott Orton. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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