Cover photo for Karen Wells's Obituary
Karen Wells Profile Photo

Karen Wells

December 4, 1940 — August 18, 2022

Coffeyville, Kansas

Karen Wells

On the morning of August 18, 2022, Karen Jane Wells of Coffeyville, Kansas passed in her home with family present at the age of 81.

While pregnant with Karen, her mother, Dorothy, was in a car accident that left her mother hospitalized for months. The nurses and doctors looked after Karen while she was in the hospital nursery in Winfield, Kansas, until she was about six months old. Later as a child, she fell and broke her nose on the porch rail. Due to a cold, the packing would not stay in and the cute bend at the end of her nose developed.

While attending Sedan High School, Karen met the love of her life, Richard Wells. Initially, Richard and Karen dated secretly. Following high school graduation in 1958, Karen attended secretarial school in Bartlesville, OK. When her dashing Richard Wells suggested they elope, the couple tied the knot May 1, 1959, in Miami, OK.

Karen held several occupations while married to a teacher and coach. She was employed at Hopkins Manufacturing, then as a secretary at Emporia State University while her husband attended classes. She served as a cook at Satanta High School; a meter reader in Olsburg, KS and worked in the Toddler Room at Little People’s Learning Center in Garnett, KS. The family joked that mom probably potty-trained half of Garnett while working at the Learning Center.

Karen’s true passion was animals. It did not matter what size of animal; she loved them all. When hired at Mages Vet Clinic the number of dogs in the family was two. By the time she retired from Cottonwood Animal Hospital she had adopted and rehomed dozens of animals into good homes, including her children’s. From fish, dogs, cats to guinea pigs, she dearly loved them all. She even loved the bull that caused her first shoulder injury.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Lee; parents, Chester and Dorothy Mills; sisters, Phyllis Alexander and Mary Ann Coe. Karen is survived by son, Richard Wells and wife Sonja of Coffeyville, KS; and three children Jessica, Nathan, and Brenden Wells; daughter, Susan (Wells) Wildeman, partner Leon, of Williamsburg, KS, and two children Kelvin Wildeman and wife Chelsea, with two children (Karen’s great-grandchildren) Elizabeth and Rebecca Wildeman of Topeka, KS; and Kate Wildeman of Mendocino, CA; and daughter Julia Wells of Houston, TX; along with many nieces and nephews. Karen also leaves behind her furry best friend, Scotch.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022 at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas 67337 with Pastor Jaime Regis of Dearing Christian Church officiating.  Private Inurnment will take place at Fredonia Cemetery in Fredonia, Kansas.  The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 25, 2022 from 6-8pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel.   Karen's family has requested memorial contributions be  made payable to either Coffeyville Friends of Animals Shelter PO Box 1654, Coffeyville KS 67337 or Prairie Paws Animal Shelter, 3173 K-68 Highway, Ottawa KS 66067. Contributions may be left in care of the chapel. To view the live streaming of the service or to leave an online condolence or share a memory visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karen Wells, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, August 25, 2022

6:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)

Ford - Wulf - Bruns Chapel (Woodland Ave, Coffeyville, Kansas)

2405 Woodland Ave, Coffeyville, KS 67337

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Memorial Service

Friday, August 26, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Ford - Wulf - Bruns Chapel (Woodland Ave, Coffeyville, Kansas)

2405 Woodland Ave, Coffeyville, KS 67337

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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