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Kellie Joyce (Morgan) Schenck

Jan. 30, 1969 - May 20, 2015
Kellie Joyce (Morgan) Schenck
Courtesy photo |

Editor’s note: This obituary has been updated to include the time and date of the service for Kellie Schenck.

Kellie Joyce (Morgan) Schenck was born on Jan. 30, 1969, to James and Diane Morgan in San Gabriel, California. From there the family moved to Madera and Oakhurst, California. There she excelled in any sport that she tried. She graduated from Madera High School in 1987

Her love of sports and driven nature took her to the Division I level at the University of Idaho, where she played volleyball as a setter and where her name resides to this day within the annals of their record books. It was here that she met her soon-to-be husband John Schenck.

Upon Kellie’s graduation in 1993 from University of Idaho with degrees in education and special education, she followed John to Aspen, Colorado and was quickly hired by the Aspen School District to teach fifth grade and coach volleyball at the high school. She coached the high school team for five years, earning several league championships, two trips to the state tournament and one Coach of the Year Award. She later received the inaugural Aspen Teacher of the Year Award in 1999 and again a few years later.


Even with the arrival of children, Kellie never changed her focus on her career, taking the minimum time off for pregnancies. She maintained her love for the classroom, teaching children and everyone around her. In 2005, only months after the birth of her youngest boys, twins, she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. This did not stop her drive to keep teaching, she would only miss an afternoon here or there during chemotherapy by arranging her treatments on Fridays so that she could be back in the classroom ready to teach on Monday. Kellie continued her battle with cancer and survived with elegance for years past the doctors’ expectations and diagnoses.

Kellie touched many lives with her contagious energy and glowing personality. It is at Aspen Middle School where she coined the term “Team Schenck” — the exclusive club that was her class every year. She garnered an atmosphere of respect, courtesy and camaraderie. Her strength and ability to push her students and athletes beyond their own expectations was one of her greatest assets.

It was only recently that the cancer and the treatments began to take a toll that even her strong will could not overcome. After a long lasting battle she passed on May 20, 2015, she is survived by her parents, Jim and Diane Morgan, brother Tom Morgan, sister-in-law Jodi, and their children, Tyler, Cole and Emily. She also is survived by her husband John Schenck, father-in-law Robert Schenck, daughter Dara Schenck, sons Rand Schenck, Paul Schenck and Dayton Schenck as well as John’s siblings and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a community celebration for Kellie’s life at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Benedict Music Tent in Aspen.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations to her children’s education fund that can be made at Alpine Bank. The family thanks all of those who supported Kellie and her efforts to live her entire life with dignity and joy.