Ruth Lillian Wells

Ruth Lillian (Elliott) Wells
October 20, 1920 – May 1, 2016

The youngest in her family Ruth Lillian (Elliott) Wells was the fourth child born on October 20, 1920 to Harry Eureka Elliott (Father), Bertha Frances (Stahl) Elliott (Mother) in Crowley, Colorado. She moved from the farm in Crowley that belonged to her grandparents', Frank Stahl and Christine (Goetz) Stahl, when she was around 5 years old. After a short time in Pueblo and Green Mountain Falls her family including her parents and three siblings, William F. Elliott, Martha C. (Elliott) Anderson, and Bertha L. (Elliott) Hanel moved to Denver, Colorado. On April 2, 1939, she married Forney Earl Wells, Sr.

Ruth grew up, lived and worked in Denver all of her life. Until the last few years, she was able to live at her home at 155 S. Irving Street. She died peacefully at 95 years of age at the home of her grandson, Jeffrey A. Wells, in Fort Morgan, Colorado. She spent the last days of her life doing what she loved; playing games with children, sewing, and spending time with family. Ruth will be best known as grandma as she leaves behind her treasure in life, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Ruth is in preceded in death by her husband, parents, all of her siblings and her beloved great grandson Reece Addison Wells of Brisbane Australia. She is survived by her sons Forney E. Wells, Jr. (wife Jan) of Denver, Victor A. Wells, (wife Elaine) of Grand Junction, CO, 11 Grandchildren; Victor Wells Jr., (wife Pam) Thornton, CO, Ronald Wells, (wife Michelle) Bisbane, Australia, Russell Wells, Henderson NV, Jason Wells, Denver CO, David Wells, (wife Sarah), Excelsior, MN, Jodi (Wells)Flynn, (husband David), Willard, MO, Jeffrey A. Wells, (wife Krista), Fort Morgan, CO, Patrick Wells, (wife Louisa) Woodbridge, VA, Spencer Wells, Salt Lake City, UT, Stuart Wells, (wife Lindsay), Junction City, KS, Jessica (Wells) Wallet, (husband Calvin) Fred, TX, 30 great grandchildren; Kristina, Reece, Jeremy , Sheridan, Shelby, Brooke, Ashleigh, Nolan, Rachel, Sarena, Aubrey, Ryan, Kaitlin, Ruthanne, Emilee, Daphne, Collin, Jeffrey, Jackson, Clark, Charlotte, Sophia, Benjamin, Harold, Joshua, Freeman, Thomas, Shepard, William, Victoria, 7 great-great-grandchildren; Alivia, Kate, Carter, Annabella, Eleanor, Claire, Chloe. Ruth also has many nephews and nieces who hold her memory dear.

Ruth was patriotic and had great reverence for both God and country. She supported her family while her husband served in the South Pacific during World War II. While her husband served she saved her money and purchased a lot to build their first home. Due to scarcity of building supplies during the war she used lumber from old train boxcars to construct their home. Later in life Ruth supported her son Forney who served in the Navy and grandsons who currently serve in the Armed Forces. Throughout her life Ruth's faith in God was seen in her acts of kindness and service toward all. Her service was an example that inspired several of her grandsons to serve ecclesiastical missions in various parts of the world for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Ruth enjoyed the outdoors. She caught her first fish with her brother Bill at age 5. From then on she was hooked on fishing. She loved to take rides through the mountains and enjoyed the changing of the leaves in the fall. She loved wildlife and had a special place in her heart for animals. She hated to see anything suffer and often sacrificed to help others carry their burdens in life.

Ruth especially loved children. Her home was always open to guests, especially the little ones. Children from her neighborhood would often visit her along with her many grandchildren. For many years she had bells hanging on her front door to alert her to the visitors coming to see her. She was blessed by setting an example to her family when she cared for her elderly family members. Her door was always open to everyone.

Ruth was not a respecter of status, but rather of persons. She did not care about titles but cared if someone was honest, fair and hard-working. She measured people by their character and not by the size of their bank account.

She taught her children and grandchildren the importance of thrift and the importance of fun. Her sense of humor made everyone comfortable and when asked who her favorite grandchild was, she would always say, "I love them all." If you ask her grandchildren who her favorite was, they we would say, "me." She missed her grandpa Frank and we are sure she enjoying him now.

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