John Andrell Wells

John Andrell Wells passed peacefully Friday, March 24, at Grace Ridge Retirement Community in Morganton, NC. He was born in Shelby, NC and later resided in High Point, Morganton, and Statesville before returning to dear friends and family in Burke County.

John's career was in furniture manufacturing, and he was an accomplished furniture designer and business executive. He served as President of Gilliam Furniture Company, Thomasville Upholstered Furniture, Inc., CM Furniture, Inc., in addition to previous related positions. John was a 1954 graduate of North Carolina State University in Furniture Manufacturing and Management. He served as 1St Lt US Army in the Korean War. John was highly active in professional and civic organizations. He served on the LeadingAge board of directors, the NC Dept of Insurance Continuing Care Advisory Committee, and was a past President of the Grace Ridge Residents Association. He was a founding Director of the Statesville YMCA, a past President of the Statesville Rotary Club, and served on various community development committees, and in Director and advisory roles for numerous organizations.

John was an avid traveler and created happy memories with his wife Pearl, their closest friends, and extended family on trips which included every continent, numerous countries, and nearly every US state. He was adept with tools, a master problem solver, and ingenious in his ability to fix most anything. He was a talented gardener who produced a landscape of lovely plants and flowers. He loved nature and enjoyed hiking and fishing in interesting places both near and far, often capturing those images in beautiful photographs and watercolor paintings.

John was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, his wife, Pearl, and his beloved son, John Wells Jr.

He is survived by daughters, Kathryn (David) Ervin of Cary and Ashley (Mickey) Lewis of Morganton; grandchildren, Anna (Chris) Hoppert, Sally (Chris) Beck, Katie (Rob) Haywood, and Max Lewis; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He, along with his family, was ever so grateful for the abiding care and compassion that was evident every step of the way from nurses and staff at Grace Ridge.

A private burial service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville, NC at a later date.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, 204 Avery Avenue, Morganton, NC, 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.