Loran Barnard Wells

Loran B. Wells

Loran Wells died on August 12, 2008 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada. He was 81 years old. Loran was born August 6, 1927 to Roy William and Alta Lucille Brewington Wells in Whitefish, Montana. The family left Montana and settled in Aztec, New Mexico, where Loran and his older brother Roy were raised. He attended school in the Aztec school system, leaving school to join the U.S. Navy in 1945. He was honorably discharged. He married Betty Tyrrell in Gillette, Wyoming on March 12, 1949. They moved to Sterling, Colorado and started their family. From this union came four children. The marriage ended in divorce. Loran married his wife and companion of 30 years Elaine in Nevada. Loran traveled around a lot, following the oil field "booms". He spent time drilling and tool pushing and consulting in New Mexico, California, Texas, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. He also worked on the Mercury Nevada Test Site in the early 60's. He retired form the "oil fields", having devoted forty nine years to the energy field. After leaving the oil fields he spent most of his time in building up his other oil field business, Black Mountain Recovery/Recycling Facility, in De Beque, Colorado. He also owned and operated the D/J CafAC. and Lounge in Collbran, Colorado from 1970 to 1989.

Loran and his wife Elaine retired to Mesquite, Nevada in May 2006, after having spent twelve years as "snow-birds" in Nevada. Loran enjoyed playing black jack tournaments and just spending time with all his friends. One of the greatest trips Loran ever made was the "pack trip" he and his good friend Bill Barnard made out to the Absaroka Wilderness in Montana in the 70's. He would always chuckle about some of the "happenings" that went on during that trip, always wishing he could have made "that ride one more time". Loran had a way of telling some of the funniest stories about his growing up years and his experiences of his life in general, some of his "sayings" will tickle us forever and that twinkle in his blue eyes whenever he was telling his stories. Loran will always be in our hearts and memories forever, he will be missed by his loving wife Elaine, children Roxanne Tyrrell, Jeanne Liercke, William Wells, Robert Wells, Pam Hawkins, Londa Moore, and his two step children, Jeff and Eric Pratt. He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially his namesake Lauren Ashley. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Roy of Aztec, New Mexico.

We will always love and miss you everyday of our lives.

Graveside services will be conducted at Palisade Cemetery in Palisade, Colorado on August 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in his honor to J.D.R.S.(Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Attn: Jamies Jammers 100 Metropolitan Park Dr. Suite #400 Liverpool, New York 13088.