Susan T. Schell

Susan T. Schell, 62, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on November 10, 2024. She was born on November 11, 1961, in Garrett County, Maryland. Susan is preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Schell, mother, Florence A. (Georg) Schell, and sister, Deborah (Schell) Skipper. She is survived by her brother Dennis Schell, nieces and nephews, and her cats Pumpkin and Merlin.
Family members agree that Susan was a pillar of the family. While she could be stubborn and headstrong (no one will believe that), she would be there at a moment's notice to help if needed - even if it meant driving 12 hours and arriving to do manual labor! While she had no children, she claimed Jessica as hers, and Abby and Walker as her grands. That made for an interesting explanation at times! She had several fur babies, including Prince (a trained police dog), 2 rescue greyhounds (Pixie and Dixie), and most recently Pumpkin (she claimed from the fire college) and Merlin (adopted for Abby - but also claimed by Susan). Her hobbies included baking, horseback riding, and Sudoku.
Known as a reliable friend, Susan always went the extra mile to make those around her feel special, seen, and remembered. Susan fostered lifelong friendships, meeting up with her best friend, Bonnie, from her school days, yearly, sharing cat memes and phone calls between visits. She didn't let a milestone go unnoticed. She was also an active member of her church - singing in the choir, helping organize events, and participating in community outreach.
Susan's legacy was her career as a public servant. She was driven and unstoppable in her professional life. She started by running calls with the local rescue squad. She later served as a deputy for the Garrett Co. Sheriff's Office. But her passion and dedication was to the fire service. She dedicated much of her career to the education, training, and safety of firefighters in Maryland and Florida, but also traveled to other states for various trainings. Susan made sure "her people" were as prepared as possible for the inherent dangers of the job. Susan was also a certified Rescue Diver. Her commitment to the fire service extended beyond her job as she participated in the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial annually, assisting in transporting families attending the event.
Florida State Fire College Auditorium
Saturday, November 23, 2024
11:00 AM, uniformed personnel arrive by 10:30 AM
11655 NW Gainesville Road
Ocala, FL 34482
(352) 369-2800 https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/f24115897597041