Johnnie May Wells

Graveside services for Johnnie May Wells, 82, of Lufkin will be held Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Berry Cemetery with Bennie James Acker officiating.

Mrs. Wells was born May 7, 1935 in Houston, Texas to the late Earl and Lula Lee Richardson Brown, and died Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at her residence.

Mrs. Wells was first a daughter who dropped out of school early to help take care of her mom and work in the family business. At the age of 19 she married her husband and served alongside him as a Navy military wife for more than 20 years. She was a loving and devoted wife who loved her husband of 53 years before his passing, and her family more than life or words can express.

After the military life, moving to Lufkin, Mrs. Wells worked as Department Head Manager in the men’s department for J.C. Penney (downtown) and Weiner’s. In the late ‘80s, she and her husband opened and operated Texas Best Frozen Yogurt. They later closed it and she took a job at Angelina County Airport. Her employment at the airport consisted of managing the café solely for five years to growing the business to now employ more than six, serving what it was known for, hamburgers and homemade pies. Her gift to all military personnel in uniform was lunch on her! She served the people of Angelina County for 13 1/2 years before sickness required retirement in 2008.

She was a fighter, strong-willed and determined after losing the battle of seven different spreads of cancer. Her pastime enjoyment was collecting Seraphim angels and dishes. She also enjoyed playing dominoes and cards.

Survivors include her sons, Charles W. “Chuck” Wells and wife Rebecca and David W. Wells, all of Lufkin; daughters, Audrey J. Wells of Lufkin and Charlotte “Sugie” Mann of Lumberton; special #1 daughter-in-law, Cindy Garcia and husband Carlos of Lufkin; grandsons, Marcus Wells, Justin Wells, David Wells II, Steven Drake, Lewis Wells, Cody Drake, Paul Wells, Jack Wells, and Henry Wells; great-grandchildren, Charles Bentley Drake, Kyleigh Drake, Ava Wells, and a great-granddaughter of Lufkin; sister, Della Mae Acker of Sunset, Louisiana; and many nieces and nephews on both the Brown and Wells side of the family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband/best friend, Charles William Wells, Sr. in 2007; grandson, Ethen John Drake in 2013; granddaughter, Sara E. Wells in 1993; daughter-in-law, Evie Wells in 2016; brothers, Lee Earl Richardson, Albert Richardson and Bobby Jack Richardson; brother-in-law, Bennie Acker; and other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law on the Wells side of the family.

Pallbearers will be Steven Drake, Marcus Wells, Angel Tellez, Carlos Garcia, Frank Harrison, Leuellen Boudreaux, and Bentley Drake.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.