Mary Alice Schell

Mary Alice McDaniel-Schell.

Born September 17, 1930 in King George, Virginia to Melvin Hurston McDaniel and Sadie Weedon-McDaniel. On July 1, 2025, after a short illness, Mary peacefully went to be with the Lord. She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Edmond Lee Schell. Ed and Mary were a military family and world travelers. After retirement from the United States Navy the family made their home in Citrus Heights, CA.

Mary is survived by her three children William (Greg) Schell, Douglas Schell and Lisa Poston, six grandchildren and nineteen great grand children

Mary resided in the King George, Virginia area until her graduation from King George High School in 1946. Mary enjoyed her school days. She not only excelled at scholastic studies but enjoyed participation in school sports. Though she was involved in swimming, basketball, and track, it was baseball that captured her heart and was the highlight of her athletic career. While in high school Mary worked varying jobs, but her most memorable stories came from a summer job as a ‘Jar Packer’ at the local pickle factory. After graduation Mary moved to and worked in Washington D.C. as a Messenger for the telephone company where she met and married Ed. The military took these two rural kids on the adventure of a lifetime that included several states, territories and countries. Mary was proud to be a military wife and spoke fondly of those years. She treasured the days of entertaining neighbors on base and insuring that every serviceman had a ‘home’ to go to on the holidays. She often talked of their time in Guam and Hawaii where she enjoyed beach life and building relationships with the locals. While in Guam, she worked for Pan American Airlines. Upon Ed’s retirement from the USN the family relocated to Citrus Heights where Mary worked as a receptionist, a medical transcriptionist, and the California state tax board from which she retired.

Mary enjoyed participating in many clubs and community organizations such as the Mothers March, Sportsman’s club, bowling leagues, numerous golf clubs, Girl Scouts, PTA, Red Hat Club, Bunko and when physically able, always returning to her first love, baseball. Over the years her love for travel never diminished and she took every opportunity to take to the horizons. She and Ed traveled to a large majority of the European countries and proudly claimed to have visited all 50 states. Though travel was foremost of her favorite things to do, Mary would always take spending time with friends and family over her itchy feet. Her thoughtfulness for others was ever present as she would never allow a holiday, birthday or special occasion to pass without one of her specially chosen cards to celebrate the day or give comfort to someone in need. Her self-less dedication to those around her and her zest for life were the hallmark of her personality.

Celebration of life ~ East Lawn, Greenback lane August 21st at 10:00 a.m.