Michael A. Wells, 53
Michael A. Wells died at his home in Stonyford, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. He was born in Colusa to Allen and Denise Wells on August 18, 1970.
He attended Maxwell High School and was an outstanding athlete. He excelled at basketball but loved all sports.
As an adult, he inspired many kids through his love of coaching sports. He then returned to his roots of cattle ranching, learned from his grandfather, William Dirks. Being a cattleman was his lifelong passion and true love.
He is survived by his children, Chase and Kegen Wells; his father and mother, Allen and Denise Wells; his brother, Brent Wells; his sister, Jamie Ramirez; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Maxwell, and burial is planned at Maxwell Cemetery. A reception is to follow at the Legion Hall in Maxwell.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a monetary donation in Mike’s honor to the Stonyford Buyers Group. Make checks payable to the Stonyford Buyers Group and mail to:
Denise Wells
P.O. Box 456
Maxwell, CA 95955
Neil Austin Stuart, 93
Neil Austin Stuart died in Willows, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. He was born on May 9,1930, in Exeter, Calif., and lived there with his parents, Calva and Ray Stuart, until he went to college at San Jose State University.
In 1952, he earned a Bachelor’s in music, concentrating on both voice and clarinet. He later returned to San Jose State to earn a Master’s in Education.
He paid for his undergraduate college expenses by working in San Jose canneries during the summers. It was there that he met the love of his life, Elaine Jewett.
When her sister stormed off in their car after an argument with a supervisor, Elaine needed a ride home. Neil offered her that ride and the rest was history.
After graduation, he joined the Air Force in 1952. He was first stationed at Park’s Air Force Base, where he played and sang in the Band of the Golden West. A highlight of their many performances was their weekly appearance on the KPIX TV program, “On Wings of Song”.
On April 24 1954, he and Elaine were married in Los Gatos, Calif., and happily journeyed through life together until Elaine died on March 14, 2021.
Just after Neil and Elaine were married, Neil was sent to Okinawa for 18 months. After the two were reunited in the U.S., they traveled to Virginia, where Neil was stationed for the remainder of his time in the Air Force.
His first teaching job was in Williams, Calif., in 1956. That year their first daughter, Carolyn, was born.
In 1958, he began teaching classroom and instrumental music at Sycamore School in Willows. Their second daughter, Jyl, completed the family in 1967.
He finished his career in education as a counselor at Willows High School.
He performed music over his many years in Willows. He played sax in a big band led by Jimmy Larrabee. He was often asked to sing at weddings, high school graduations, and Lamb Derby musical reviews.
He was the music director for a number of musicals directed by Ron Reed. For many years, he also directed the choir at the Willows United Methodist Church. His performance of “O Holy Night” on Christmas Eve was a tradition that he continued until the Christmas of 2022.
In 1987, Neil and Elaine retired and were able to spend many years enjoying new travel opportunities. They took their travel-trailer on adventures across the U. S., into Canada, and up to Alaska. They also enjoyed international travel to Europe and Australia.
Even before they retired, their summers were devoted to fishing in Crescent City and backpacking in the Sierras. Neil was already a talented fly-fisherman when he discovered that his true calling was fishing in the ocean out of Crescent City and Fort Bragg on his boat, The Hunky Dory.
Neil helped his parents build their cabin in Mineral King, which was finished in 1947. He spent every August from then on, hiking and fishing.
He and Elaine were avid backpackers and took many trips into the backcountry of the Sierras. The longest of those was the John Muir Trail, which spans 210 miles. He summited Mt. Whitney five times over the years.
He taught others to love hiking and backpacking through church groups and a Willows High School hiking club. His daughters are eternally grateful that he passed on his love of music and mountains.
He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Glenn Dawson of Oroville, and Jyl and Mike Groves of Salinas; and grandchildren Hannah and Gabriela Groves of Harlem, Georgia, and Kyle Groves and fiancé, Sergio Bauer of Inglewood, Calif.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Willows United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Donations can be made in honor of Neil to the Mineral King Preservation Society at mineralking.org.
The Glenn County Observer 