Georgia Ann Schell

Georgia Schell passed away peacefully on New Years Day, January 1, 2026. She was born on July 12, 1941 and grew up in the Rose City area of Portland where she was a Junior Rose Festival princess. Her family moved to Madras Oregon where Georgia graduated from high school, was a rodeo princess and Miss Jefferson County. She was a University of Oregon graduate where she met and dated Steve Schell. She joined the Peace Corps and served in India during 1964-1966 where Steve reconnected with her on his way back from Vietnam. She later recruited for the Peace Corps and spent a year in Washington, DC. After a stay in Ohio where she farmed, raised horses, and was blessed with children Aaron and Beth, Georgia and Beth returned to Oregon where Georgia taught school, got her MBA and worked for Intel. Georgia and Steve were married in 2001.

Georgia belonged to several groups including The Portland Garden Club, The Garden Clubs of America, her ’87 book club, and her CCW class of the First United Methodist Church.

Georgia represented the Portland Garden Club on the Garden Clubs of America’s National Legislative and Conservation Committee in Wahington DC. She became GCA vice chair for Partners for Plants where she worked with endangered and invasive species projects throughout the U.S., one of which was the McCord Creek Partners for Plants project in the Columbia River Gorge. GCA's Conservation Committee took her to meetings at Lake Placid and Memphis. She visited site studies at Acadia National Park and a city park in Nashville.

Georgia’s family was her priority. She was constantly in touch with her son Aaron Reid, daughter Beth Wyatt, the Schells: Tom and Tia, Jonathan and grandchildren Owen Reid, Mason Schell, and Sebastian Jade Hazel, and her nieces and nephews, the Wests. She provided limitless support for them and her husband of 25 years, Steve. For Georgia, her coterie of close friends provided irreplaceable love and sustenance.

Georgia’s previous health challenges resulted in several events which she survived. Her death was a surprise to her loved ones. She will be sorely missed, but her spirit will continue in everyone she touched.

A Celebration of Georgia’s life will be held at the Raquet Club of Portland, 2 PM on February 15, 2026.