Rev. Donald Vernon Wells, son of the late Charles Donald Wells and Jeri Thornton Wells was born on April 11, 1940, in Mattoon, Illinois, and went to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 82 years.

On August 22, 1964, in Mattoon, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Donna Decker and from there the journey began. After surrendering to the call of God upon his life he and Donna sold everything they had and made their way to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Rev. Wells attended the Nazarene Bible College. After graduating seminary and for the next 46 years they committed to serving in pastoral ministry for various churches in Missouri and Illinois. He pastored the Nazarene Church in Bernie, Missouri, for almost 20 years and then after retiring he served as pastor of the Corner Gospel Church in Bernie, Missouri for another 7 years. After his second retirement he helped his son pastor at the First Pentecostal Church of Dexter, Missouri, where he was a member.

He loved being with his family and following a variety of sports. In his younger years Rev. Wells was also an avid runner. And the pride of his life were his six grandchildren.

He is survived by two sons, Gary Wells and wife Christy of Dexter, Missouri, and Jeff Wells and wife Tera of Dexter, Missouri; by his daughter, Jenny Wells of Bernie, Missouri; by his two brothers Steve Wells and wife Kathy of Aurora, Colorado, and Kenny Wells and wife Eileen of Phoenix, Arizona; by his four sisters, Judy Ingram of Palatine, Illinois, Carol Claxon and husband Roger of Champaign, Illinois, Marsha Dawson of Charleston, Illinois, and Jeri Kurkul of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; by his four granddaughters, Macie Wells, Taylor Montgomery and husband Brett, Kaeli Wells, Mikalyn Kirkwood; by his two grandsons, Riley Wells and Tyler Wells.

Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, David Wells and Jimmy Wells.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie on Thursday, June 2, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, June 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Kenneth Harper and Rev. Jeff Wells officiating.

Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.