Vernon Wells

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Vernon Clifford "Red" Wells, 71, of Perryville died Monday, June 2, 2003, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Dec. 11, 1931, in Stoddard County, Mo., son of Levi Adolph and Myrtle McDaniel Wells. He and Wanda Aleta Lawson were married July 1, 1974.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Clifford Wells of Perryville; three stepsons, Allen Reed of Senath, Mo., Butch Reed of Caruth, Mo., Charles Reed of Germantown, Tenn.; a stepdaughter, Charlene Cochran of St. Louis; a brother, Farrell Wells of Dudley, Mo.; five sisters, Mary Wells, Betty Clark and Opal Holman of Sikeston, Mo., Wilma Break of Handy, Ark., Carolyn Hayden of Charleston, Mo.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and 19 stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, three sisters, a stepson and a stepdaughter.

Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Floyd Rickard will officiate. Burial will be in New Morley Cemetery at Morley, Mo.