Cateechee Golf Club owners Charles (Charly) and Kelli Schell died in a plane crash near Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming on July 14, according to friends and family.
The well-known and loved Hartwell couple left town with their dog in early July on an extended vacation to Montana, traveling in Charly’s small passenger plane, according to the couples’ closest friend Hank Didier. Didier said the couple was en route back to Hartwell when they crashed.
A Monday, July 18 press release from the responding law enforcement unit, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, said the wreckage left no identifiable markings visible on the aircraft, no survivors and the “remains were unidentifiable”. Those close to the family, including Charly’s brother Joe Schell, say they are positive that the crash in question killed the Schells.
“[Information] came in stages,” Joe said. “They didn’t land and then the next day, there was a search and rescue. A lot of the details are still uncertain and we’re trying to avoid coming up with assumptions. I know for complete certainty that they were in a plane crash and both died.”
On July 15, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office received a call from air traffic control in Salt Lake City, Utah, of a missing aircraft, according to the report. The aircraft had reportedly departed the Powell Municipal Airport in Powell, Wyoming, on July 14 at approximately 12 p.m. with two people on board headed to Buffalo, Wyoming, but the plane did not arrive at the Johnson County Airport.
“Dispatch called the local airport and verified that the plane did not reach its destination,” the release said. “A short time later, the Sheriff’s Office received a report from the U.S. Forest Service that their firefighters had been called to a fire and had located wreckage from an airplane… in a remote area of the Bighorn National Forest. It appeared that the plane crash was the cause of that fire.”
According to the release, a rescue team consisting of local agencies and the U.S. Forest Services met at 9 p.m. on July 15 to “gather details about the wreckage.”
“Because of the time, remote location, an active fire in that area, hazardous conditions and access to the area would most likely be on foot, it was decided that a team would be sent early the following morning,” the report said.
A team left Buffalo for the crash site at 5:30 a.m. on July 16, according to the report, and began investigating the site at 9:30 a.m.
“The team reported that there were no identifiable markings on the aircraft and there were no survivors,” The release said. The remains of the victims were transported from the crash site to the Johnson County Coroner’s Office.”
The office said no additional details would be provided by press time, citing the active investigation.
Didier said he and the family have been receiving information via a family friend in Wyoming who is in contact with officials handling the case.
“At this time there is very little public information known and we don’t know more than just kind of the details of flight path and where the plane was found but otherwise we have no formal issued details,” Didier said.
He added on Tuesday, July 19 that he didn’t expect to receive any formal updates “for some time.”
The cause of the crash is currently unclear but Charly’s competence as a pilot has never been in question, Didier said.
“Charly is an Army veteran, Apache commander and he’s had a private business and he’s been a pilot for decades. He absolutely loves flying. He’s probably forgotten more about flying than most people will ever know,” Didier said.
Much of Hartwell received news about the couples’ passing on Saturday, July 16 via a Facebook post made by Cateechee.
“The love Charly and Kelli shared for Hartwell and its community inspired the purchase of Cateechee in 2017,” the post read in part. “Cateechee has provided special memories for many of us, and we will continue the legacy that Charly and Kelli paved — and the business model that embraces the community.”
Didier along with his wife Allison have been close friends with the Schell family for more than 15 years. Didier is also a business partner.
“My son works with [Charly and Kelli’s son] Carter. [Their daughter] Savannah has worked for me,” he said. “We just have this unbelievable personal connection to the Schell family and it’s devastating to all of us.
“Charly has always been so proud of building his business there in Hartwell, supporting that community and trying to give back and be a member,” Didier said.
Kelli is remembered as similarly community-minded, serving as a member on the Hart Chamber of Commerce Board and the Joint Development Authority for Northeast Georgia. She was a volunteer of the Hartwell Service League and YMCA board, a hospice volunteer and participated in several other charitable ventures which led her to receive the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award twice.
The couple was particularly proud of the charity they founded together, Toughest Kids, which in various ways supports children “with ailments, physical challenges, foster kids and the growing number of kids who have lost a military parent,” according to the charity’s website.
“I learned what charitable giving and true selfless giving is from being around Charly and Kelli,” Didier said.
Didier served alongside Kelli on the Toughest Kids board.
“For people wondering, if you want to support their memory and their charitable giving, which they were so passionate about, we think a donation through Toughest Kids in memory of them is a great gesture,” he said. “That’s kind of where the family is right now in those types of requests.”
A link to donate is available at toughestkids.com.
Didier said one of the aspects of his friends he will remember most is their commitment to Hartwell.
“They loved the community of Hartwell and when they bought Cateechee back in 2017, they were so excited about taking that valuable asset of Hartwell, turning it around and making it something that Hartwell had for everyone there,” he said. “I think that community of Hartwell is something I’ll always remember about them — just how nice it is to have a community like that where you’re so personally invested and everything about the town matters to you.”
On Saturday, Hartwell mayor Brandon Johnson posted the following message to Facebook:
“The City of Hartwell sends its deepest condolences to the families of Charly and Kelli Taylor Schell and to the Cateechee family. Their untimely passing leaves our community with a void that can’t be filled. They were huge supporters of Hartwell and proved it when they took over the Cateechee Golf Club several years ago. Without them, we most likely would’ve lost one of our greatest assets,” Johnson said.
“Simply put, they loved Hartwell and Hartwell loved them. We will all work to continue their legacy by working together to see Hartwell reach its full potential. Please join me in praying for their kids and family during the coming days.
“On a personal note, Charly and Kelli were friends and neighbors. They sold us the land we built our home on and where we’ll raise our family. He told me several times how glad he was that we built on the property. Charly supported me in my endeavors and shared his wisdom in business to help me succeed. Hartwell and our neighborhood won’t be the same. You will both be missed!”
Johnson’s message was one of countless in an outpouring of support on social media and elsewhere following the Schell’s deaths.
Along with their children, Savannah, 25, and Carter, 22, Kelli is survived by her parents Frank and Nancy Taylor. Charly is survived by his parents Frank and Janet Schell. All four parents live in Hart County.
A memorial service will be held for Charly and Kelli Schell Sunday, July 24 at 2 p.m. at the Lonnie Burns Fine Arts Center at Hart County High School. A reception will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cateechee.