1943
Patricia Ruth Wilhite Wells
2024
Patricia Ruth Wilhite Wells
April 17, 1943 — March 30, 2024
Kansas City, Missouri
Patty was born on April 17, 1943 in Ottawa, KS to Willie Wilburn Wilhite and Beulah Rose Nelson. She was the oldest of 7 children. She was preceded in death by her husband on February 11, 2024. She was also preceded by her mother, father, and three brothers, Kenneth J. Wilhite, Curtis J. Wilhite, and Willie W. Wilhite Jr.
She married Stephen Harold Wells on May 28, 1961. They were married almost 63 years! She was survived by her two sisters Sandra Kay and Melody Rose and one brother Robert Allen Wilhite. She is also survived by her three children: Stephen H. Wells Jr. (Tamara) of Layton, Utah; Sonya Hefter (Paul) of Bloomington, IL; and Jarrod Wells of Kansas City, MO. She was also a proud grandma to 11 grandchildren: Marjaneh S. Ghasemi; Amir E. Ghasemi (April); Trey M. Ryan (Tiffany); Stephen H. Wells III; Parisa A. Ghasemi (Justin); Donald C. Ryan “Chris” (Krista); Nadia (Nick) Stenerson; Hayley (Cody) Wells; Mitchel (Taylor) Wells; Mason Hefter; and Lacy Hefter. And 8 great-grandchildren: Esmeralda Sanchez, Emiliano Sanchez, Elsa Sanchez, Eliseo Sanchez, Elvis Sanchez, Ehsan Ghasemi, Kaden Ryan, and Cameron Ryan.
After getting married, Patty was a Navy wife and faithfully followed her husband where his service took them while starting their family and having their first two children. When they finally settled in Kansas City, MO, she welcomed their last son Jarrod. Patty continued to be a wonderful homemaker, mother, wife, and daughter. She enjoyed going back to her hometown Ottawa, KS to spend time with her mom and dad as well as many of her brothers and sisters and cousins. She gardened, canned vegetables, sold Tupperware, and loved to read and sew. Patty was an expert seamstress and could make anything with ease. She loved all kinds of flowers, her favorites being peonies, roses, tulips, irises, and pansies. She also loved birds, especially cardinals, bluebirds, and hummingbirds. She would watch the hummingbirds drink from the feeders from her comfy chair. Patty loved handmade gifts and cameos.
When the kids grew into teens, Patty started working at Zarda Dairy and gas station, quickly rising to a manager position because of her incredible work ethic and dedication. The store was later bought out by Texaco where she eventually retired after working for over 25 years. After retiring from Texaco, Patty worked as a bus monitor for Laidlaw transportation. She took her job very seriously — not only would she buckle the young riders into their seats, but she would sing songs and entertain the children.
In 1986, Patty and Steve moved to Lake Waukomis where she lived for the past 38 years. She enjoyed living on the lake and having family and friends visit more than anything else. Her happiness came from her family. She lived for them. She loved all of them deeply.
Patty loved to go out on the boat and in the end, besides car rides, boat rides were her main sense of peace. She could ride in the boat for hours, enjoying every minute.
The family would like to extend special thanks for the loving care and compassion of the Monarch Hospice staff and the Addington Place of Shoal Creek’s memory care staff. They would also like to thank Saint Luke’s North hospital where she spent over 5 weeks before going to Addington Place.
Patty had a sweet tooth and enjoyed a Snickers candy bar, chocolate, ice cream, or Dr. Pepper. But she always shared. Throughout her dementia, Patty stayed sweet, thankful, and empathetic. Still asking “Did you get some of this? Or sweetly asking “for a little sip”. She would tell the nurses “thank you” even if they were giving her an injection. She had the prettiest blue eyes and a beautiful smile. She will be deeply missed.
Patty was cremated and her ashes will be placed next to her husband Steve’s ashes in the Wells’ family vault. They will be interred together at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO. A private ceremony will be held at a later date.
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