Marilea A. Wells

Marilea Wells, 84, was called home to be with the Lord on September 11, 2020, after a lengthy and courageous battle with illness. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2020 with funeral services at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends are invited to join a virtual service via Facebook live, please visit www.memorialfuneralhomecolumbia.com and select the view livestream tab under services at the time of the service. If you are unable to view the service live, it will be available for replay on the Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Memorial Park Cemetery/Columbia Facebook page after the service ends. In keeping with the guidelines put forth by the Boone County Heath Director all guests are required to wear a mask, to keep social distancing (six feet apart), cough into your sleeve and wash and sanitize your hands often.

Marilea was born January 19, 1936 as one of five children to Clarence and Muriel Ashlock in Tyronza Arkansas. Her parents and two brothers, Bobby (June) and Billy (Joy) Ashlock preceded her in death. Her sisters Margrhea (Harold) Willmuth and Arlynn (John) Hazelwood survive.

She attended and graduated from Sloan-Hendrix High School after attending a rural elementary school named Fairview. She enjoyed school and learning in general and made good grades. The summer after graduation from high school she competed in the Lawrence County Beauty Queen contest. She was crowned the queen given her beauty and warm personality.

She married James N. Wells on July 7, 1956 and had four children: Lynna (Tom) Rice, Robert (Lisa) Wells, Angela Woods, John (Jennie) Wells. She loved her 10 grandchildren: Kelli Rice, Ashton Wells, Chelsea Wells, Jake (Paige) Rice, Wells Woods, Andrew Woods, Maggie Rice, Ali Woods, Jillian Wells and Connor Wells. Tom and Kelli Rice preceded her in death.

Following James during his service years in country and several years in education in Arkansas, the family moved to Columbia in 1965 where James opened Fairview Elementary School. Marilea was a hostess of many teacher functions through the years. She supported her active family as James achieved advanced degrees and attended hundreds of rehearsals, concerts, athletic events, pageants and instilled a love of music in all her children. When the children were grown, she began a career as a dental assistant and enjoyed helping with thousands of patients and was a friend to many.

For 55 years, Marilea was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, now Calvary Heritage Baptist Church. She served as Sunday School Teacher, nursery worker, committee member, choir member and again played hostess to weekly coffees and countless functions. She loved her fellow church members, studying the Bible and sharing the goodness of God.

Marilea was an avid reader and excellent seamstress who loved to laugh and visit with friends and family. She enjoyed regular visits with Avon representatives and many others who provided goods and services. She and James enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states, they took 7 cruises and visited foreign destinations including England, France, Italy, Israel, Egypt and more.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Heritage Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer‘s Association.