Blaine Richard Wells

Blaine Richard Wells passed away on January 30, 2026 at home at the age of 90. Blaine was born in Pratt County, Kansas. He was the third child of seven children. His parents were Millard Leroy Wells and Anna Ethel Richardson Wells. Blaine attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Pratt for grades one through eight. He received his high school diploma from Pratt High School in 1953, his Associate in Arts Degree from Pratt Junior College in 1955. He attended Fort Hays University, Hays Ks, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree with dual majors in mathematics and social science in 1958. Blaine was on the scholastic honor roll every semester and he graduated with high honors. He received a National Science Foundation Grant and enrolled in the Graduate School at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS, where he earned his Master of Science Degree in mathematics in 1963. Blaine earned additional graduate hours at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS in mathematics and gifted education.

BR taught students high school mathematics at Garden City High School, Garden City, KS for five years where he was head senior class sponsor and activities director for four years. He moved to Junction City, KS to teach for thirty-two years at Junction City High School. During his tenure at JCHS, BR was head junior class sponsor for 5 years, Chairman of the Mathematics Department for 14 years, and Treasurer of the Junction City Education Association for 13 years. He served on the curriculum and graduation requirements committee and was instrumental in establishing the mathematics resource center. BR was selected to write mathematics questions for the Kansas Minimum Competency Test. While serving as Gifted Education Coordinator, BR started the JCHS Scholars’ Bowl Program.

BR received many honors during his thirty-seven years of teaching. His philosophy was “Great Expectations with High Standards to Match.” While at JCHS he received numerous awards and accolades. He was selected to represent JCHS at the annual Kansas Governor’s Scholars Luncheon on seven occasions. BR received the Kansas University Award for outstanding teaching in mathematics on four different occasions. In 1988, he was selected as the “Teacher of the Year” at JCHS for being “an effective teacher in the classroom and having a commitment to working with students in a caring and challenging way.” BR is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 1990 and 1994 editions.

During his teaching career BR was a member of the following professional organizations: Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Kappa Mu Epsilon (National Honorary Mathematics Fraternity), and Phi Delta Kappa (National Honorary Fraternity for Teachers), Junction City Education Association, Kansas Education Association and a life member of the National Education Association. He was also a life member of the Geary County Historical Society and Pratt County Historical Society.

Blaine married Judy Coleen Countryman (Esbon, KS) at Pratt, KS on December 27, 1969. He retired from teaching in May, 1995 and lived the next six years in Germany where Judy was employed as a civilian nurse for the United States Army. In June, 2001, Blaine and Judy moved to western Colorado living in Cedaredge for seventeen years. While in Cedaredge, Blaine was an active member of St. Philip Benizi Catholic

Mission and Our Lady of the Rockies Knights of Columbus Council. In 2018, they moved to Grand Junction and were Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church parishioners.

Blaine was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Leroy Gene Wells, and three sisters, Phyllis Ann Wells, Martha Sue Wells and Mary Diane Wells. He is survived by his wife, Judy of the home, two sisters, Ruth Julane Hovorka of Topeka, KS and Teresa Joyce Snyder of Hesston, KS, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Callahan-Edfast Mortuary is in charge of services. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Mission, Cedaredge, CO. Inurnment will be at the Wells Family Plot in Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt, KS. If you would like to do so, the family requests that any memorials be made to the Geary Community Schools Foundation, Junction City, Kansas, for the Blaine Richard and Judy Coleen Wells Memorial Mathematics Scholarship at 1100 Blue Jay Way, Junction City, Kansas 66441.