Clara Luella Wells, age 102

September 13, 1922 – November 25, 2024

Clara Luella Wells, age 102, of Montrose, Illinois, passed away peacefully, at 8:53 PM – Monday, November 25, 2024, at Willowbrook Memory Support Residences in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM – Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 203 East Grove Avenue, Effingham, Illinois.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until service time at the church.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM – Friday, following the services at the Island Creek Cemetery, southeast of Montrose, Illinois.  In loving memory of Luella, memorials may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church.  Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home – Bishop Chapel in Greenup, Illinois.  The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.

Luella was born September 13, 1922, in Jasper County, Illinois, the daughter of Lummis Earl and Corinthia Elizabeth (Diel) Wallace.  She married Paul E. Wells on August 10, 1947, and he preceded her in death on November 17, 1979.

Luella was a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and was a teacher for 35 years in the Greenup and Dieterich School Districts before her retirement.  She was a member of the Effingham American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, IEA-NEA, Montrose Methodist Church and later attended Centenary United Methodist Church.  Luella enjoyed reading, word puzzles, working outside mowing her lawn and tending to her flowers, line-dancing, but most of all being with all her family and grandchildren/great grandchildren and was known as GMA Great.  In 2010, Lakeland Rehab and Health Care Center recognized her as Volunteer of the Year as she played the piano for them twice a month as well as the Cumberland Rehab and Health Care Center.

Luella is survived by children: David (Linda) Wells of Effingham, Illinois; Stephen (Judy) Wells of Teutopolis, Illinois; and Nancy (Ron) Reed of Effingham, Illinois.  Nine Grandchildren: Brian Wells of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; Beth (Adam) Miller of Springfield, Missouri; Daren (Beccah) Rich of St. Charles, Missouri; Matthew Reed, and Brandon Reed of Effingham, Illinois; Scott (Lisa) Turner of Newton, Illinois; Sara (Adam) Blickem of Teutopolis, Illinois; Gina (Adam) West of Louisville, Illinois; and Ben (Kelli) Wells of Teutopolis, Illinois; and nineteen Great Grandchildren.  One brother-in-law Jack (Marty) Pierce of Mattoon, Illinois.

Luella was preceded in death by her parents, husband, six sisters: Kathryn Russell, Vera Hetzer, Virginia Keigley, Ruby Lowry, Norma Grisamore, and Ruth Pierce; two brothers Donald Wallace and Russell Wallace.