Philanthropists and business owners Charles "Charly" Thomas Schell, age 52, and his wife, Kelli Taylor Schell, age 50, both of Hartwell, Georgia passed away on July 14, 2022 in Buffalo, Wyoming.

Kelli was born in Chandler, Oklahoma, the daughter of Franklin "Frank" Lee Taylor and Nancy Barbara Taylor. Charly, the son of Clifford "Frank" Schell and Janet Chapman Schell was born in Hartwell, Georgia. He and Kelli met and fell in love as students at North Georgia College in Dahlonega. In addition to their parents, they are survived by their two children, Savannah Marie Godeaux (Jacob) of Simpsonville, South Carolina and Carter Brooks Schell of Hartwell, Georgia; Kelli's brother Casey Taylor (Megan) of Killeen, Texas; Charly's brothers Jon Paul Schell of  Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Joseph "Joe" Franklin Schell (Traci) of Montgomery, Alabama; and honorary son James Stowers of Hartwell, Georgia.

Kelli was a devoted wife, mother, and volunteer having been designated Hart County Volunteer of the Year two years in a row. She served as President of Hartwell Service League, was a Hospice volunteer, and served as a board member for the Bell Family YMCA, the Hart County Chamber of Commerce, and the Joint Development Authority of Hart and Franklin County. Together she and Charly founded Toughest Kids, Inc., a non-profit corporation dedicated to giving outdoor experiences to kids who might not otherwise get to learn about nature. They believed that every child should have the chance for a good life.

Charly was an Army pilot who flew Apache helicopters, F-16's, and various airplanes. He left the Army as a Major and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves until 2004. After his military service, he was a founder in Forge Consulting and most recently served as founder and chief executive officer of Armis Advisers and Bison Advisors. Charly specialized in advanced financial planning and was known throughout as an expert in his field.

Charly and Kelli moved to Hartwell in 2001 where they became integral members of their community while raising their family. They instilled in their children their shared love of the environment and the importance of service to others. In 2017, Charly and Kelli bought Cateechee Golf Club and Conference Center to preserve this wonderful asset for Hartwell and Hart County. Where others saw roadblocks, Charly and Kelli were visionaries who only saw opportunities. They were truly a Renaissance couple whose love for each other, their family, their friends, and their community knew no limits.

Their joint memorial will be held on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at The Lonnie Burns Fine Arts Center, Hart County High School, 59 Fifth Street, Hartwell, Georgia. Reception to follow from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Cateechee Golf Club, 140 Cateechee Trail, Hartwell, Georgia.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to https://www.toughestkids.com/

The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is assisting the family with the arrangements.