John Lester Wells

John Lester Wells, Sr., 85, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Lake City, Florida, after a brief illness. He was born in Paint Lick, Kentucky, on July 8, 1939, to Cecil Wells, Sr. and Anna Mae Kinnaird Wells.

Survivors include his son John Lester Wells, Jr. (Janet); granddaughter Jenna Wells, special person Nancy Helen Cromer and her son Jerry Cales, brother Harold Thomas Wells (Regina), sister Virginia Wells Fitzwater, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Cecil (Bud) Wells, Jr., brother-in-law Oscar Fitzwater, and his former wife Carolyn Shearer Wells.

John attended Paint Lick and Lancaster Schools and graduated from Trevecca High School in Nashville. He earned his AA degree at St. Petersburg Community College, BA and MA degrees at the University of South Florida, with post-graduate work at the University of Kentucky.

He was a man of many talents and job opportunities: Grocery store manager, elementary school teacher, director of Maywoods Environmental Center, builder and landlord, and most recently, author of a book. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, telling stories, and spending the winters in his Florida cabin.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 1-3pm at Spurlin Funeral Home in Lancaster, Kentucky. Service will follow at 3pm at the funeral home with Bro. Daryl Hodge officiating. Burial will be at the Manse Cemetery (the Old Paint Lick Cemetery) in Paint Lick.

Pallbearers will be Rick Wells, Shon Wells, Jim Champ, Stephen Kinnaird, Allen Day and Wayne Day.

Honorary bearers will be Jerry Cales, Kurt Heatherton and David Kidroske. 

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Helen Cromer, Jerry Cales, David Kidroske, and Kurt and April Heatherton for their assistance with John's care. 

Suggested charities are: Hospice Care Plus, 350 Isaacs Lane, Richmond, KY 40475, or the Old Paint Lick Cemetery, Inc., a 501(c)(13) non-profit, P.O. Box 76, Paint Lick, KY 40464. 

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