July 9th
Funeral, Service & Reception

10:00am – Military Gate Check 
Fort Myer Hatfield Gate.
29 Carpenter Rd. Fort Myer, VA 22214
(Military ID or registration required. Details below)

11:00am – Service
Old Post Chapel, Fort Myers.
204 Arlington Ave. Fort Myer, VA  22211

11:30am – Graveside Service 
Arlington National Cemetery

12:30pm – Reception
Spates Club, Fort Myers.
214 McNair Rd, Fort Myers, VA 22211

Mandatory Pre-Registration
(unless active military ID)
The service, funeral & reception is located on a military base, Fort Myer-Henderson Hall on July 9th. Please fill out the expedited visitor entry form on the link below.  Please note:

• The form is to get on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall [JBMHH].
• The Hatfield Gate is where all guests will go through to get on JBMHH.
• Before clicking on the below, have your driver’s license (MUST BE REAL ID) or passport and your SSN. Please register with the ID you’ll be using on July 9th.
• You’ll also need to include your cell phone number as they’ll text you access confirmation (please save this text as a precaution).
• All guests 18 years of age or older should fill out this form to expedite entry.
• Within 72 hours you will get a text confirming that you’ve been approved for base access. If you do not receive a text response within 48 to 72 hours or have any questions, call the VCC during regular business hours at 703-696-0186/0189 for assistance.

To register, click on the link and select “Pre-vet here for expedited visitor entry” (it’s located on the picture).

https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/about/funeral-access

July 9 ID requirements to enter the base:

• All visitors 16 years of age and older must present a valid photo ID to enter. 
• 16 and 17 year olds who do not have a license or passport may present an official school-issued photo ID.
• Visitors 18 years of age and older must present a valid REAL ID Driver’s License or passport. Please bring the ID that you used to fill out the expedited visitor form.

In Lieu of Flowers

Please send donations to House of Ruth, Empowering Women and Families Since 1976. House of Ruth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Washington, D.C.

House of Ruth

Schele E. Mongeon (Woodruff)
December 29, 1948 – January 27, 2026

Schele E. Mongeon was born on December 29, 1948, in Greeley, Colorado, to Ella M. (Irby) Woodruff and James B. “Jim” Woodruff. At the time, Jim was teaching Industrial Arts at what was then Colorado State College of Education. In 1951, Jim started his 33 year Air Force career. Schele moved frequently – an experience that shaped her lifelong love of travel and taught her to create a home wherever she landed.

Her childhood included time in the Philippines and across the United States, with early years in Lafayette, Indiana; Fairborn, Ohio; and Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. She graduated from high school with honors in 1967 and was selected as the Rapid City South Dakota Student of the year. She met her future husband, Dan Mongeon, her senior year of high school. After high school she attended Colorado State University for one years before transferring to the University of Arizona. She graduated from college in 1971 with a teaching certificate in English and a minor in French.

In June 1969, Schele married Dan at an outdoor wedding at her great Aunt’s house in Smartsville California. Together they began a life marked by family and adventure. Dan’s 34 year Army career took them to Fort Lee, Virginia; Camp Zama, Japan; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Springdale, Arkansas; Springfield, Virginia; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Würzburg, Germany; Mons, Belgium; El Paso, Texas; Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Corozal, Panama; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Fort McPherson, Georgia—18 moves in 34 years. After the Army, Dan worked the next 17 years for an international logistics firm, Agility. Schele often traveled with Dan and especially enjoyed overseas travel. She made friends fast and fully embraced every experience. Throughout their travels Schele worked and taught—including teaching English as a second language in Japan and Belgium and finishing her working career with 18 years in the sales department of ASIS trade magazine. In 1995, they settled in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2009 they bought their dream home which Schele transformed into a family home that would become “fun central” for family gatherings, dinner parties, holidays, and pool parties.

Schele and Dan raised two sons, Matt Mongeon (born in 1976, married to Emily in 2011) and Murphy Mongeon (born in 1978, married to Josie Graham in 2011). She was the proud grandmother of Bryce, Jack, and Evy Mongeon – she loved her nickname “Schele-Schele”. As a grandmother she loved her “babies” and showered them with kindness and love. She relished her time with them. Her role as a mother has been defined by constant presence, thoughtful guidance, and a deep belief in raising independent, capable, and happy people. She always answered the phone, offered steady advice, and showed up when needed.

She was equally devoted as a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law. She maintained close relationships with her siblings—her big sister Cyd, with whom she often traveled the world; her brother Si, who always had his sisters back. She admired that Si was a “stand-up guy” and that Cyd had a “heart of gold”.  She made it a point to stay connected and get together as often as possible.

A lifelong traveler, Schele visited all seven continents. She stood on Antarctica, saw polar bears in the wild in Canada, cruised the Mississippi River from top to bottom, hiked into Machu Picchu Peru, explored the Galapagos twice, traveled to Cuba, explored Morocco, and hiked Mount Fuji all night to see the sunrise. She also visited many countries including Australia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and many others. Whether on a Mongeon family adventure or with her close circle of travel friends she cherished each adventure. She chronicled many of these journeys in her blog, scheleandtell.com, sharing stories from the road. She was always ready and excited for the next experience. For her 50^th year wedding anniversary she set a goal of 50 dates, no repeats, in a year and she got it done. 

Schele was known as a gracious host, an amazing cook, and the organizer of family gatherings, reunions and dinners with friends. She co-authored the book “A Girl From Fraser” that recounted her mothers’ life story. The goal was to preserve family history for future generations. She had a close circle of friends—a sisterhood spanning decades. Whether navigating a new country or a crowded kitchen, she approached life as a good sport, willing and fully engaged. She was an excellent conversationalist who always made time for a phone call.

Schele led by example. She found adventures wherever she lived, created home wherever she landed, and remained a steadfast presence for her family and friends. Her life was one of intention, connection and enduring love. She truly impacted many lives with her infectious smile, good humor and loving warmth. She is missed so very much, may she rest in peace.