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Jerry Schell
August 1930 July 2010
Schell j pic copy
Jerry Schell, 79, of Denair, passed away on Thursday, July 29 at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock. He was born in Rocky Comfort, Mo. to Earl and Mina Schell in 1930. Jerry was raised there until he was 13, when his family moved to Delhi.
In 1951, Jerry married Yvette Pittser and in May of 1951, he was inducted in the Army. After the service, Jerry and Yvette moved to Turlock. Under the GI bill, Jerry attended Modesto Junior College and played basketball for them. They lived in the Turlock/Modesto area until building a home in Denair in 1967. Jerry worked for J.C. Penney and Met Life Insurance until becoming an agent for State Farm for close to 30 years.
He was a member of the Turlock Lions Club, Rotary International, Arrowhead Club of Turlock, and the Turlock Active 20/30. Jerry enjoyed sports and was an avid basketball fan. He played city league basketball into his 50s and attended the Final Four for many years. He also enjoyed deer hunting, fishing and,  most of all, he loved playing poker and pinnacle.
Jerry is survived by his wife, MaryEllen Schell of Denair; children, Debra Frazier of Denair and Jerry Schell, Jr. of Turlock; siblings, Imogene Graves of Delhi, Rex Schell of Kansas, Carl Schell and Marvin Schell, both of Texas, and Lana Graves of Turlock; grandchildren, Kacey Ziya of Oakdale, Matthew Frazier of Denair, Branden Schell of Waterford and Derek Schell of Turlock; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Yvette Schell; and sisters, Ilaine Brand and Mary Helen Schell.
A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Allen Mortuary. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. pm Thursday, Aug. 5 at Turlock Memorial Park. A celebration of life will follow at 1 p.m. at Monte Vista Chapel in Turlock.
Memorial contributions may be made to Arrowhead Club of Turlock, P.O. Box 608, Turlock, CA 95381 or to the American Cancer Society, 1604 Ford Ave. Ste. 8, Modesto, CA 95350.
Please share your memories at www.allenmortuary.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Allen Mortuary.