Wells, Mary Lela 1896-1976

WELLS, TAYLOR, BEELER, RANKIN, SOUTER, MCLAIN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/18/2010 at 09:22:02

The Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) March 15, 1976

RITES HELD FOR MRS. WELLS

Mary Lela Wells, 79, of Rte. 2, Montezuma, died early Wednesday at St. Francis Manor.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Martin Gruneich, pastor of the Ewart Presbyterian Church, officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Booker Kiner, organist, and Mrs. William Smith, vocalist. Pallbearers were Lewis Baltisberger, Kenneth Bushong, Emmett Inman, Ernest McFerren, Donald Peterson, and Rene Van Tomme. Flower bearers were Mrs. Lewis Baltisberger and Mrs. Donald Peterson. Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Should friends desire, memorials in Mrs. Wells' name may be made to St. Francis Manor.

The daughter of Ira C. and Ella Taylor Beeler, she was born Nov. 22, 1896, in the Blue Point community. She attended rural school near her home. On Dec. 22, 1915, she was married Frank Wells at her parents' farm home. The couple had three children.

Mr. and Mrs. Wells farmed near the Ewart and Montezuma communities all their lives. They had recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Mrs. Wells attended the Lower Blue Point Church and was a member of the church's ladies aid.

Survivors include her husband, Frank; three children, Mrs. Gerald (Pauline) Rankin of Grinnell, Clair Wells of Grinnell, and Mrs. Robert (Mary Jean) Souter of Deep River; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Hugh (Eva) McLain of Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, William J. Beeler.