Gene Wells

POPLAR BLUFF - The Rev. Eugene "Gene" Wells, 79, died Oct. 21, 2001, at Three Rivers Health Care South.

Born May 8, 1922, at Doniphan, son of the late Charles and Lucy Collins Emery, he had lived at Qulin and East Prairie before moving to East Prairie in 1984. A member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, he had served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Broseley and at churches in East Prairie and the Poplar Bluff area during his 42 years of ministry. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had been employed by Farmer's Cash in Poplar Bluff and Orgill Hardware Supply in Memphis, Tenn., before retiring in 1987. He also served on the Qulin City Council for many years.

On April 4, 1942, he married Alma Lee Lewis who preceded him in death on July 18, 2001.

He and Esther Ayers were married May 10, 2001, and she survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two daughters and sons-in-law, Louise and Robert Stagner of Poplar Bluff and Beth and Dickie Sanders of East Prairie; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Deanna Wells of Jacksonville, Ark., and Robert and Gina Wells of Bosier City, La.; three sisters, Grace Fondren of Poplar Bluff and Alberta Henthorn and Norma Emery of St. Louis; three brothers, Jack Wells and Norman Emery of St. Louis and Carl Emery of Lafe, Ark.; and 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Also preceding him in death were one brother, Edward Wells; and his stepfather, Clarence Emery.

Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. James Epps, the Rev. Don Seat and the Rev. Jerry Capps will officiate.

Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Poplar Bluff.