Erma R. Schell

Erma R. Schell

November 11, 2009

Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Asbury United Methodist Church, Watertown.  Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Theresa. There will be no calling hours.

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Erma R. Schell, 91, passed away on Nov.10, at Samaritan Keep Home.

She lived her adult life at 816 Le Ray Street before moving to Whispering Pines and eventually to Samaritan Keep. 

Erma was born April 16, 1918, at the family home in Theresa, a daughter of Newton J. and Bernice Brown Schell.  After her early education at the Pink School House, she graduated from Theresa High School. She received her BS in Education from SUNY Buffalo and her MS in Education from SUNY Potsdam.  

Erma’s teaching positions were in Calcium, Alexandria Bay, and Case Junior High School in Watertown. She retired in 1973 after 35 years of teaching English.   

Ms. Schell was a member of the National Education Association Activities Committee and delegate to NEA conventions which required attendance at annual conventions in ten major cities of the U.S. She also attended two conventions of the World Confederation of the organizations of the teaching profession. One was held in Sydney Australia in 1970 with side trips to Japan, The Philippines, and Hawaii. Another convention was held in London, England with side trips too Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Scotland in 1972.   

Erma was a member of the NEA, a life member if the North Central Zone Retired Teachers, and member of the Case Junior High School Retired Teachers. She was also a member of the Asbury Methodist Church, the North Country Bird Club, Friends of the Flower Library, Jefferson County Historical Society, Golden Sheaf member of Pamelia Grange #68, member of Pomona, State and National Grange, Watertown Morning Musicales, Watertown Lyric Theater Orchestra, Deland Little Symphony in Florida, Bedford Creek Golf Club, LeRay de Chaumont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Board of Directors of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, the Sci-Tec Center and the JCC community Orchestra. 

Surviving are a brother, Eldon Schell, Theresa and a sister, Doris Gibson, Evans Mills, cousins Helen Chisholm, Watertown, and Eunice Fisk, Brownville, Lyle Hall, King Prussia, Pa.; nieces and nephews, Donald (Shirley) Schell, Pamelia, Earl (Connie) Schell, Fort Covington; Lyle (Joan) Schell, Wixom, Mich.; Janet (Robert) Montford, Sackets Harbor, John Zimmer, Theresa, Mary (William) Watt, Waukesha, Wisc., Lucille (William) Pekarek, Pittsburgh, Pa., Claudia Klock, Philadelphia, Clifford (Barbara) Schell, Evans Mills, Paul Schell, Theresa, William (Maria) Skilton, Clyde Hill, Wa,, Susan (John) Skilton Kaiser, Moraga, Calif., Bruce (Dawn) Gibson, Evans Mills.  

A brother, Irvin Schell, and two sisters, Eileen Zimmer and Evelyn Skilton, died before her. 

Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.