Jackie Johnson Schell

Jackie Johnson Schell of Bridge City peacefully passed away on July 24, 2026. She was a fiercely independent and outspoken woman, a lover of a good cup of coffee, and a pillar of strength and love for her family.

She was born at home to Harry and Estella (Stella) Gillis Johnson on April 11, 1934, in Starks, Louisiana. She was the fourth of five children; Jackie was a sister to Inez, Mary (Bobbie), Aver and Harry Jr (Buddy).

Jackie was married to Rodney Vernon Schell for 46 years and was the beloved mother of Rhonda Gail Schell of Silsbee, TX and Gordon Clifford Schell of Columbia, South Carolina. She adored her two grandchildren, Rachael Daniels Cole and Lauren Daniels, and four great-grandchildren, Jozsef Gaudet, Zsofia Gaudet, Michael Cole, and Elizabeth Cole.

She entered her heavenly rest surrounded by loved ones and woke up healed in health and whole again in eternity. She rejoins her husband Vernon, brother Buddy Johnson, sisters Inez Clark, Bobbie Johnson Braneff and Aver Johnson Braneff.

Jackie would often reminisce of growing up in Starks, where she and her brother helped pump tubs of water for her mother who took in washing for men who worked in the nearby shipyard. She played basketball when in high school and liked to talk about “sledding” down a pile of sawdust at a local sawmill.

As a young adult, she moved to Port Arthur, Texas, to stay with her sister Bobbie and her husband RC, while there, she worked at Walgreen’s and then at a department/grocery store called Bluestein’s, where she sold dresses.

She met Rodney Vernon Schell (R.V.) in Port Arthur where he worked for Texaco (The Texas Company) after he had been discharged from the Navy. They married on January 19,1953 and moved to Bridge City in 1960.

One day, Jackie went with her nephew Moe (Aver’s son) for him to fill out an application to work at the United States Post Office. On the spur of the moment, she decided to also apply. She ended up working there for many years, first as a rural route carrier and then, as she was given more responsibilities, she often went to Houston for administrative meetings. She retired from the postal service in 1998.

She was a 52-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she held many offices, including Worthy and Past Matron, Deputy Grand Matron, and Grand Representative of Wyoming in Texas. She also attended the Eastern Star Grand Chapter of Australia. It was through Eastern Star that she met many dear friends who held a special place in her heart. She was also a member of Daughters of the Nile. The friends she made through these opportunities became extended family whom she deeply loved.

When younger, Jackie was an avid bowler, and she traveled to League tournaments across the country. Through bowling she gained life-long friends whom she loved dearly.

Jackie loved to travel! Besides bowling trips and Eastern Star, she and R.V. traveled quite a bit before they had children. And then, with the kids, they went on vacation every year. Driving would always be the mode of transportation because R.V. refused to fly. This love of travel was passed on to her grandchildren. Many summers were spent driving in “the van” to destinations such as Montana, Tennessee, Georgia and many, many more. After R.V.’s death, she made several long trips with tour groups, including to the Holy Land.

She lived alone in Bridge City after her husband’s death in 1999 for a short time, before she lovingly opened her home to others. Over the next few years she shared her home with a niece, a family friend, and her granddaughter and great grandchildren. During these years Jackie was known as the “life of the party” aunt, and friend; who on occasion would head out to go dancing with her loved ones. She was also the pancake making Mammaw, who taught her great grands basketball and baseball in the yard. She would lovingly spend many mornings cuddled up reading with her great grandchildren, or drinking a good cup of coffee in the kitchen while the kids made muffins and then enjoying her afternoons “porch sitting” with the great grands; Jozsef and Zsofia.

In 2024, after her health began to decline, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina to live with her son and daughter-in-law. She loved to receive mail from her loved ones who would write to her and keep her in the loop on the happenings back home. She passed away peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness.

Jackie leaves behind many to cherish her memory. Her two children, her daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Also left behind to remember her are many cherished nieces and nephews, countless friends, neighbors, and the precious staff who loved and cared for her in her final days. Jackie was loved well and will be missed by many.

The family will receive visitors from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Claybar Funeral Home, 800 Highland Dr., Bridge City, TX 77611. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 4560 TX-87, Orange, TX 77630.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://donorservices.alz.org.