Mae Wells

Lella “Mae” Wells (McKinley), 94, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2025.

Mae was born on October 22, 1930 in Callahan County, Texas to her parents Albie and Gertie McKinley.

She married Sydney G. Johnson on February 15, 1947. Sidney passed away in an accidental cave explosion. Mae married Max J. Wells in 1952 and they shared a beautiful journey together for 46 years until Max’s death in 1998.

After raising five children and being a homemaker, Mae needed a hobby, so she took up bowling. This was a passion of hers. She bowled in a league until she was 90 years old. In her last league she bowled with women in their late 60’s. None of them ever out bowled her, she was amazing and fun.

Mae was preceded in death by parents, Albie and Gertie McKinley; husband, Sidney G. Johnson; husband, Max J. Wells; grandson, Earl R. Gilliam; and daughter, Frances Johnson-Smith.

Mae is survived by her loving children, Patricia Groom, Visalia, CA, Kay Mitchell, Liberty, MO, Norman R. Wells (Connie), Smithville, MO, and Donna Silva, Kansas City, MO; and her dear cousins, Debbie Fincher and Bonnita Kaye Case, Prescott, AZ. As a mother of five she was blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. They will all miss her.

Funeral Service: 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23rd at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Smithville with visitation one hour prior to the service.
Private Family Burial will be held at St. Charles Memorial Gardens in St. Charles, MO.