I had Mr. Wells for English back in 1992.  He was a grat teacher. The thing I remember the most is he use to always say I looked liked Natlie Wood. When he called roll instead of saying is Heather here, he would ask if Natlie Wood was here.  The class would just smile and laugh. I will never forget that.  I am so sorry for your loss.  My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

I will hold your memories forever dear in my heart.  I could not have asked for a more loving and precious brother- in- law.  You were like a brother to me from the first time Nolan introduced us.  I would not have made it on our trek to California and back without you, for sure.  That is just a small example of the years of many loving memories.

daddy, i know you were with us yesterday cause me and sissy kept hearing you're song. you were always my place to go when i needed help with my homework and my life in general. i will keep my promise of Gracie going to collage and making Andy take good care of me.  sissy had it right when she she said no greater man ever lived. through your kids and family friends and students as one man you have changed the world

Our deepest sympathy to Laurel and family in this time of sorrow. May the Lord hold you close and comfort you in the days ahead.

Daddy you will be missed so dearly.  there is a huge hole in my heart that no one will ever be able to fill.  You were the greatest man I ever knew or ever will.  I love you so much and look forward to our reunion in heaven. teach those angels correct grammer!  I love and miss you so very very much!!! : )

I had the honor of taking Mr. Wells for second semester English.  I couldn't write my way out of the proverbial paper bag, but he didn't seem to care.  He said, "That's a good point, what else can you say about it..."  Gradually and through Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea Mr. Wells opened my eyes to beauty I had not considered before- the beauty of the our language and exposition of a text.  Those words, instead of being mere ink shapes on a page became a fabric by which a story was told and truths were revealed.  He passed me off to many other teachers, and inspired me to trail off after him in the same profession, albeit a considerable distance from him on that road.  Thank you Gene!

Passion is defined as a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything, dedication, devotion, or zeal.

When I think of my Uncle Gene, I think of his passion for many things:  his kids, education, good literature, history, politics, his ancestry, and his land.  
  
Uncle Gene’s greatest passion was for his family.  His delight and pride was for his children, Chris, Laurel, and Amber.  That pride and love extended as well to his grandchildren, siblings, nieces, and nephews.  He generously gave any resources he had to help his kids and grandkids whenever he could.  I heard him brag on his children many times and  he was quick to pull out the latest picture to show them off.  A quote from “The Ancient Mariner - “ “…a spring of love gush’d from my heart and I bless’d them unaware”.  How fitting considering the blessings my uncle bestowed on so many.  

Even as a small child, I remember hearing my uncle talk about education and teaching.  I believe every teacher with whom you have a relationship, whether you have personally been in their class or not, influences your life in some way, especially when you have such a quest for learning like Uncle Gene.  The value and importance he placed on education was evident after even 5 minutes of conversation with him.  Anybody “Mr. Wells” ever taught probably came away from one of his classes a better student for having had a professor with the wisdom and zeal which my uncle had.  I remember visiting him for vacation one spring and seeing the dreaded blue books piled up everywhere in his kitchen.  This was before I had ever taught and didn’t realize how much time and attention was required to any student’s work, much less college composition.  He told me it took him a long time to grade those papers because he felt each one deserved his attention since most of the students had put so much of their own time into their writing.  

Uncle Gene loved so many types of well-written literature, especially the classics.  He could quote lengthy passages and poetry along with the best of them.   Just recently, he and his sister, Linda, sat and quoted the majority of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  That wasn’t the first time I had heard him recite the phrase “Water, water everywhere….”.  I was always amazed at the content he could remember, but his knowledge of the writers, as well as the meaning and symbolism in literature was impressive too.  

What comes before us doesn’t seem to be as important to the current generation as it is to my Uncle Gene’s.  He was very enthusiastic about history, especially American and Native American.  After finding arrowheads on his land, my uncle became fascinated with the history of his land, American Indians, and their connection to all of us.  This sparked an interest in his own ancestry and our  family’s connection to Native Americans.  Last time I saw my uncle, he was still wearing a turquoise ring, proudly showing it to us and explaining the significance of turquoise to American Indians.  He said the beautiful blue color of this rock reminded them of the sky and supposedly connected the wearer of the stones to the spirit world.  

I didn’t discuss politics with my uncle much, because frankly, he was a little intimidating to me in that area.  Uncle Gene was well-informed and genuinely passionate about our president, troops, and the future of this country.  The last time we talked, he expressed concern about the state of our economy and country, and what it all meant for his kids and grandkids.  

The most powerful memories I have of my Uncle Gene relate to “his mountain”.  Our family took several vacations to Arkansas to visit the mountain and I looked forward to those times.  I loved the seclusion of his house, the view from his bluff, the animals he raised, the garden he nurtured, and the nature of it all.  The feeling you had when you were up on Uncle Gene’s mountain was relaxed.  You forgot about the city, traffic, money, and life’s complications.  Sure there was work to be done:  animals to be fed, plants to be tended, grass to be mowed, and property to be repaired.  More than anything though, the mountain begged to be explored.  I will always treasure my memories of hiking, discovering little caves, sitting on that bluff watching the sun, and losing myself in the fact that time had stopped for a few moments.  I take comfort in thinking God has a special mountain and bluff reserved for Uncle Gene and that he is there watching not only the sun, but the “son” as well.  

Although my uncle was interested in Native Americans, their customs, and beliefs, he was most certainly a Christian, who is now sitting at the feet of Jesus watching eagles soar and free from pain.  I look forward to seeing him again, hearing his stories, and learning even more when we meet in heaven.  Until then, he is rejoicing in reunion with his parents, his brother, and numerous others waiting for him with open arms.  

Everyone in this family is a better person for having known him, as I believe the thousands of students he taught are.  To paraphrase Walt Whitman, when he gave, he gave himself.  In the words of the great author, Samuel Coleridge, “The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions - the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment, and the countless infinitesimals of cheerful and warm feelings.”   The life and knowledge of Gene Wells will live on through everyone he knew…through all the little “minute fractions” he left with each of us.

I knew Gene for the last 18 years, since I started working at Fort Smith Teachers Federal Credit Union. He was such an interesting man, he would sit and tell me lots of stories, some about mu husband's uncle who he was friends with for years. I know he will be missed by everyone who knew him.
My heartfelt Condolences to his Family.

Doris Small

I had the honor of taking Mr. Wells Native American Anthropology course at Westark in the 1990s.
He was a caring teacher and I learned so much from him. His style of teaching is sorely lacking today.
My deepest sympathy to the entire family. Mr. Wells was a good man and a great teacher.

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

OBITUARY

Gene Wayne Wells

8 March, 1942 – 17 May, 2011

McConnell Funeral Home

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