|
|
W |
Gerald Wells, Sr. Family
|
W |
Photos
courtesy of Mary Louise Tanner
|
|
GERALD WELLS, SR., FAMILY
The story of the Gerald Wells,
Sr., family began in Beardstown, Illinois, where, on August 14,
1912, Gerald was born to Maude Elizabeth Lashbrook and William A.
Wells. One of seven children, "Sport," as he was then known by his
family and friends because of his sporty dress, left school in the
seventh grade to help support his family because his father was ill.
He came to Texas with his grandmother in 1933, and settled in
Collegeport where he met and, on September 24, 1933, married Mamie
Franzen.
 Mamie was born on June 29, 1913, in
DeMoss, one of nine children born to Gust Franzen, Sr. and Ellen
Bladlund Franzen. Her father was born in Rod, Sweden, in January of
1881, came to America in 1902 and to Collegeport in 1909. Her mother
was born on August 20, 1886, came to America in 1903, and to
Collegeport in 1909. Gust Franzen, Sr., died in 1945, Ellen Franzen
died in 1970, and both were buried in the Collegeport Cemetery.
Gerald and Mamie settled in
Collegeport where they first farmed cotton and later farmed rice and
raised cattle. Their three children were Mary Louise, Gerald Wells,
Jr., and Lynda Gail. They were active members of the First
Presbyterian Church of Collegeport where Gerald served as Elder and
Mamie as a Sunday school teacher.
Mary Louise married Eugene
Fitzpatrick and they had two sons, Stephen and Alan. Steve and his
wife, Debbie, lived in Houston. Alan, his wife, Kathy, and their two
sons, Alan, Jr. and Eric, lived in Bay City. Eugene Fitzpatrick died
in November of 1968 and Mary Louise married second Bill Tanner and
resided in Waco, Texas.
Gerald, Jr. made his home in
Palacios with his wife, Bettye Wuethrich Wells. Bettye managed the
Sears Catalog Store in Palacios and Gerald farmed rice, milo, and
soybeans on the family farm in Collegeport where Mamie still lived
in 1984. Gerald, Jr. and Bettye's daughter, Meloni, was a student at
Howard Payne University. Gerald, Jr. was graduated from Wharton
County Junior College and Southwest Texas State University following
his discharge from two years military service. Their family were
members of the First Baptist Church of Palacios where Gerald, Jr.
was a Deacon and Bettye taught Sunday School.
Lynda married Buddy Lenz of
Palacios. They both attended Wharton County Junior College and Sam
Houston State University. They made their home in Collegeport on the
Lenz Single Acre Farm with their two sons, Taylor and Garrett, where
they raised and showed cattle. Lynda was postmaster in Collegeport
and served as an elder, treasurer, and Sunday School superintendent
of the First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport. Buddy was a
chemical operator for Du Pont Company.
Gerald Wells, Sr., who was a proud
man, centered his life around his family and friends, church work,
and farming. He died on October 13, 1979, in Bay City after a
lengthy battle with cancer, and was buried in Hawley Cemetery.
Lynda Lenz - 1984
Historic Matagorda County,
Volume II, pp 553-554
|
Gerald and Mamie Franzen Wells at
the Collegeport School |
|
|
|
|
Family home of the Heffelfingers, Rolens, and Gerald & Mamie
Franzen Wells.
Photo courtesy of Mopac House Foundation
|
|
Mamie Franzen Wells, Gerald Jr. and Mary
Louise
|
|
Mary Louise Wells, Carole
Franzen and Gerald Wells, Jr.
|
|
Gerald Franklin Wells
Mr. Gerald Franklin Wells, 67, of Collegeport,
died at Matagorda General Hospital on October 13. He was a member of
the First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport and a resident of
Collegeport for 47 years. He was an active member of his church
serving as Elder and Superintendent of Sunday School and Sunday
School Teacher. Mr. Wells was a rice farmer and cattleman in
Collegeport until his illness forced him to retire 5 years ago.
Survivors include: wife, Mamie Franzen Wells of Collegeport; two
daughters, Mrs. Mary Louise Dowdle of Waco and Mrs. Lynda Lenz of
Collegeport; son, Gerald F. Wells, Jr. of Palacios; sister, Mrs. Roy
Lyons of Virginia, Illinois; one brother, Ira Wells of Arnzville,
Illinois; five grandchildren, Stephen and Alan Fitzpatrick, Meloni
Wells, Traylor and Garrett Lenz. The funeral was held at Taylor
Brothers Chapel on Monday, October 15, at 3:00 p. m. The Rev. Lloyd
Nixon officiated and interment was held at
Hawley Cemetery in Blessing.
Pallbearers include: Dean F. Merck, G. W. Franzen, Derril Franzen,
Wesley Franzen, Mason Holsworth and Russell Corporon. Arrangements
under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.
The Daily Tribune, August, 1979
|
|
Mamie
Wells
Mamie Wells, 86, of Collegeport, died March 1, 2000 at The Legacy. She
was born June 29, 1913 in Collegeport to the late Gustav Albert and
Ellen Agusta Bladlund Franzen.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport and a
lifelong resident of Collegeport.
Survivors include: two daughters-in-law, Mary Louise Tannner of Waco,
and Lynda and Buddy Lenz of Collegeport; son and daughter-in-law, Gerald
and Bettye Wells of Alleyton, Texas;. sister, Dorothy Merck of
Collegeport; brothers, Alex Franzen of Collegeport, James Franzen and
wife Ann of Pear River, La.; sister-in-law, Ida Mae Franzen of
Collegeport; grandchildren, Steve and Debbie Fitzpatrick, Alan
Fritzpatrick, Meloni and J. B. Cason, Traylor and Gena Lenz and Garrett
Lenz; great-grandchildren, Alan, Eric, Erin and Katie Fitzpatrick, Jason
Fitzpatrick and Cooper Cason; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs.
Wells was preceded in death by: her husband Gerald F. "Jerry" Wells,
Sr.; brothers, Arnold, Clifford, Gus, and Carl Franzen; and sister Ellen
Franzen Bryan.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2000 at Taylor Bros.
Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev's Andy and Jannel Blair and Dave
Gallaher officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport.
Pallbearers will be Steve and Alan Fitzpatrick, Traylor and Garrett
Lenz, J. B. Cason and G. W. Franzen. Honorary pallbearers will be
Session Members of Collegeport First Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.
THE DAILY TRIBUNE, Thursday, 02 Mar 2000
|
|
Gerald Franklin "Bub" Wells, Jr., 80, of Columbus, formerly of
Palacios -- went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 5, 2019.
Gerald was born December 5, 1938 in Bay City, TX to Gerald Franklin
Wells Sr. and Mamie Franzen Wells.
Gerald graduated from Palacios High School in 1957, received his
associates degree from Wharton County Jr. College and B.S. Degree
from Southwest Texas State University.
While at Southwest Texas State he met the love of his life Bettye
Wuethrich and they were married on December 10, 1960 in Austin, TX.
After serving 2 years in the US Army he came back to his home in
Collegeport, TX to raise his family where he was a farmer and
rancher. After retiring from farming he moved to Columbus, TX with
his wife Bettye where they raised, trained, and showed miniature
horses.
Gerald was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Palacios, served
on the PISD school board, was a member of the LCRA board, was named
Farmer of the Year for Matagorda County in 1982, was active in the
Palacios FFA, 4-H, and Matagorda County Fair Association, and was
very proud of all his champion miniature horses.
He is survived by daughter Meloni Cason and husband J.B. of Tomball,
grandson Cooper Cason of Tomball, sister Mary Tanner of Waco, Lynda
Lenz and husband Buddy of Collegeport, brother-in-law Thomas
Wuethrich of Dallas, and Joe Cobb of Terrell -- and a number of
nieces and nephews.
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife Bettye Wells, his parents,
and sister-in-law Nancy Cobb.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019 from 1:00 pm to
2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 202 Main St., Palacios, TX 77465.
Funeral services will follow at First Baptist Church on Friday, 2:00
pm with Rev. Chris Webb officiating. Arrangements under the
direction of Henneke Funeral Home, Columbus, TX (979) 732-2143.
Burial in Hawley Cemetery in Blessing, TX.
Pallbearers are Cooper Cason, Traylor Lenz, Garrett Lenz, Alan
Fitzpatrick, Steve Fitzpatrick, Mike Foltyn, and Mark Merck.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Baptist Church,
202 Main St., Palacios, TX 77465.
Henneke Funeral Home, Columbus, Texas
Photo courtesy of G. W. Franzen
|
|
Bettye Joyce
Wuethrich Wells, 76, of
Columbus, lost her long
courageous battle with cancer
and went to be with her Lord and
Savior on August 29, 2016.
The youngest of three children,
Bettye was born October 13,
1939, in Austin, Texas to
Margaret Hall Wuethrich and
Emmitt Wuethrich. She often
referred to herself as an “army
brat” as her father was in the
US Army and they were stationed
at various bases in the states
and overseas.
She married Gerald Wells, Jr.
and they had one daughter,
Meloni. After college and
Gerald’s service in the US Army
they made their home in
Collegeport and later Palacios.
Bettye and Gerald farmed and
owned the Sears Catalog store in
Palacios, Texas for several
years and she worked for the
City State Bank of Palacios
until they moved from the area
and started raising, training,
and showing miniature horses.
Bettye was an active member of
the First Baptist Church of
Palacios for many years where
she taught Sunday School and
served on various committees.
She answered to many names – her
grandfather called her
‘roadrunner’; her dad called her
‘Bitsy’; her grandson Cooper,
whom she adored called her
‘Mimi’; and her Sunday School
kids called her ‘Bettye
Wells-Bettye Wells’.
Bettye was a devoted wife,
mother, mother-in-law,
grandmother, daughter,
daughter-in-law, sister,
sister-in-law, aunt, and friend.
She is survived by her husband,
Gerald Wells, Jr. of Columbus;
daughter Meloni Wells Cason and
husband J.B. of Tomball;
grandson, Cooper Cason of
College Station; brother, Thomas
Wuethrich of Dallas;
brother-in-law, Joe Cobb of
Terrell; sisters-in-law, Mary
Tanner of Waco, Lynda Lenz and
husband Buddy of Collegeport;
her dear friend, Kay Lawson; and
a number of nieces and nephews.
Bettye was preceded in death by
her father and mother, and her
sister, Nancy Wuethrich Cobb.
A viewing will be held on
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Henneke
Funeral Home in Columbus; and on
Thursday, from 12:00 noon to
1:00 pm at the First Baptist
Church of Palacios in Palacios.
Funeral services will follow on
Thursday, 1:00 pm at First
Baptist Church in Palacios and
will be led by Brother Jay
Gross. Burial will follow at
Hawley Cemetery in Blessing.
Pallbearers will be Steve
Fitzpatrick, Alan Fitzpatrick,
Traylor Lenz, Garrett Lenz,
Cooper Cason, Mike Foltyn, and
Mark Merck. Honorary pallbearers
are Russell Corporon, Dan
Tucker, Bill Stuhrenberg, and
Walt Hamlin.
In lieu of flowers, donations
can be made to the First Baptist
Church of Palacios, 202 Main
St., Palacios, TX 77465
Henneke Funeral Home, Columbus, Texas
|