Finis Gerald Schell

SCHELL, FINIS GERALD (JERRY), loving husband, dad and grandpa passed from this life on Monday, February 13, 2017 in Tulsa, OK. He was born May 24, 1922 in Washburn, MO to John Floyd Schell and Effie Pauline (Baker) Schell. Jerry spent his early years in Owasso, OK on a dairy farm, graduating from Owasso High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII as a 1st Lt. Navigator and Bombardier in the European Theater completing 70 missions, receiving the Purple Heart, Air Medal and Silver Star Medal. In 1946, Jerry married Claudine Ruth (Pittman) Schell after meeting her at Crystal City amusement park in Tulsa. In 1949, Jerry and Claudine had their daughter, Judy. Jerry also received his Bachelor of Geology degree in 1949 from the University of Tulsa. After several years in Tulsa, Jerry moved his family to an acreage in Broken Arrow, OK where they would enjoy a life with horses and wildlife. Jerry spent 38 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Tulsa where he designed highways and bridges as a civil engineer from 1951-1989. Soon after retirement, he took his bride to live for 19 years at Flint Ridge near Kansas, OK. The family spent many weekends visiting them at their log cabin near the Illinois River in the Ozarks. Jerry�s family was blessed again when he and Claudine came back to Tulsa in 2013 to be even closer to family. Jerry loved working with numbers, western movies, big band and Nashville sound music, playing golf with his friend Al, fried catfish, homemade ice cream, his cat Abe, his dog Cokie, and most of all, his family. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; by his in-laws Chester and Sarah Pittman; sister Flora Ellen Fullerton; brother-in-law Virgil Pittman. Jerry is survived by his wife Claudine; daughter Judy Snively (husband Austin); grandchildren Rachel Boeckman (husband Tim) and Gretchen Spraker; father of Jerry�s grandchildren Ed Spraker; sister-in-law Irene Pittman; and his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family would like to thank St. John�s Hospital, Elite Medical Clinic and Hometown Hospice for their care for Jerry during his final years with us. The family has been assisted with arrangements by the staff at Serenity Funerals & Crematory in Tulsa. A celebration of Jerry�s life officiated by Rev. Randy Shaddox will take place Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 11 AM at University of Tulsa Sharp Chapel. Interment officiated by Capt. John Muth and the military honor guard will take place Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Bell Cemetery in West Siloam Springs, OK.

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Finis Gerald Schell

May 24, 1922 - February 13, 2017