Logan LeVerne "Verne" Shell

Logan LeVerne (Verne) Shell was born on March 07, 1935, in Wallowa, Oregon, to Daniel Boone Logan Shell and Florence Alice Shell. He passed away peacefully at home on January 30th in Ontario, Oregon, surrounded by family.

He attended Wallowa Schools from elementary through high school. At age 6 he contracted Polio. At the time, a person who contracted Polio rarely lived past the age of 35. Verne lived to the age of 90. Polio limited his ability to play sports, so he participated as the team managers throughout high school.

After graduating high school, Verne attended Eastern Oregon College, graduating in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. He returned to Wallowa where he taught 5th grade for 3 years. In December of 1960, he married Freida Janice (Jan) Shell, and adopted her 3 children John, David, and Kathy. He moved to West Glacier where he served as Principal and Instructor for the next two years. During the summers of 1961 and 62 he worked as a Sanitation Engineer for Glacier National Park. In 1962, he attended graduate school at Montana State University, where he majored in Elementary Guidance, with a minor in Speech Pathology. In 1963, the family moved to Nyssa where they welcomed Charles (Charlie) Shell to the family. Verne taught 5th grade for 4 years, as well as serving as a remedial and speech instructor. In the summer of 1968 he attended a 7 week Mexican Culture workshop in Marelia, Mexico for continuing education. He continued to teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, as well as setting up the Learning Center in 1971 at the Nyssa School District, until his retirement in 1991.

Verne was known for his avid interest in CB radios. He would talk to people from anywhere his reception would reach. He would also listen to the scanner and would track people around town. After Verne retired, one of his interests would be to read funny emails and share them via email with anyone he could. He was known to have upwards of 50 people on this email chain. He really enjoyed making people laugh.

Verne's beloved wife Jan passed away in December 2023. They were married for 63 years and their wish was to be buried together. After her death, Jan was cremated and was placed on their mantel at home so she could keep an eye on Verne. They are together again and will be placed together in the casket for their eternal resting place.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Logan and Florence Shell, wife Jan Shell, son David Shell, daughter-in-law Alicia Shell, and Granddaughter Elizabeth Shell. He is survived by his children John Shell, Kathy (Kevin) Clarich, and Charlie Shell; as well as 9 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family ask for donations to Church of Christ in Ontario, OR.

Funeral services will be held at Leinkaemper Funeral Chapel in Ontario, OR on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 1:00 pm. Graveside services to follow at the Nyssa Hilltop Cemetery.