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Alexander Robertson Schell, III lost his courageous battle with melanoma at home in Plano, Texas on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at the age of 87. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Shirley, and his children Richard Schell, Margaret Schell Thurmond and James Schell. He is also survived by his grandchildren Christopher and Benjamin Schell, Erik Yarmey, and Sarah, Sam and Amy Schell, along with his daughters-in-law Jan Schell and Jane Schell, and son-in-law Jerry Thurmond. Born on May 14, 1922, Alex lived most of his life in Plano, except for his college years at SMU and military service in the U. S. Navy during World War II while stationed on the Pacific island of Guam. The son of A. R. Schell, Jr. and Irene Schimelpfenig Schell, he was born into a family committed to lifelong church and community service. Alex graduated as valedictorian from Plano High School in 1940 and enrolled in college at SMU. His college education was interrupted by World War II, but he later returned to SMU to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1948. That same year he married Shirley Carter, whom he met at SMU, and also joined his father in the insurance agency that bears his name. At the time of his death, Alex was a partner with his son Jamie in A. R. Schell & Son Agency in Plano. During his life, he served two terms on the Plano City Council including service as Mayor Pro Tem, four terms on the City Charter Review Commission, and he also chaired Plano’s Capital Improvement Bond Election Committee. Since 1964, Alex has served continuously for 45 years as a representative for the City of Plano on the board of the North Texas Municipal Water District, having served four terms as president. He is the longest tenured appointed representative for the City of Plano. Also since 1964 he has served as a member of the board of LegacyTexas Bank. Alex joined the Plano Rotary Club in 1948, and he had 61 years of perfect attendance. He was past president of the club, a Paul Harris Fellow and a strong believer in the Rotary Four-Way Test. A member of the Plano Chamber of Commerce since 1948, Alex was a former board member and the recipient of the Chamber’s Special Award of Merit in 1987. He was a 32nd degree Mason in the Plano Masonic Lodge and an Endowed Member of the Scottish Rite Temple of Dallas, having over 50 years of membership. He was also a past chair of the United Way of Plano, and a past member of the boards of the Plano Library Foundation and Farrell-Wilson Heritage Farmstead. A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Plano, Alex served his church in many capacities. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees for many years, and served as chair of the church’s Administrative Board, Finance Committee, a capital campaign, and as a member of several Building Committees. He was a lay delegate to the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church for many years, and also served as a lay member of the N. Texas Conference Ministerial Selection Committee. Alex loved family time, especially when spent on Lake Texoma at the family lake house or on his boat, Sea Schell. Colorado and Santa Fe, where he and Shirley honeymooned, were two other favorite destinations. Alex never met a stranger and had an almost photographic memory, especially when it came to Plano’s history. He dearly loved being “Pappaw” to his six grandchildren and “loved his family with all his heart”. He dedicated his life to God, his family, his church and his community and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 until 9pm. Funeral services will be at 2:30pm Thursday January 21, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Plano followed by interment in the Plano Mutual Cemetery. The family suggests memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society 250 Williams Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 or to the First United Methodist Church, 3160 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074-1704