Deborah Suzanne Wells

On January 31, 2023 Deborah S. Wells passed on to life everlasting. She was born August 15, 1949 in Carroll, Iowa to Dr. John and Mary (Swearingen) Morrison. She grew up in Glidden, IA moving to Des Moines with her family where she graduated from Roosevelt High School.

While at Grandview College she met Kenneth (K.C.) Wells of Des Moines. They were married February 24, 1973 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Des Moines. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary later this month.

Debbie graduated from Drake University with a Bachelors and Masters in Education. She taught Title 1 reading in Des Moines Public Schools until her youngest daughter was born when she then chose to stay home with her three daughters.

Debbie was very active in her daughter’s lives and the community. She was always there to take them to activities, and to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. She spent many years volunteering with Valley Bands as a “band mom.” She was politically active volunteering for various campaigns every election cycle and was a long-time member of the Polk County Republican Central Committee. She loved to tell the story about the time she hung up on Karl Rove during the 2000 caucus campaign. She was also a member of The Mayflower Society and Daughters of the American Revolution.

As a cradle Episcopalian (of which she was very proud), her faith was incredibly important to her. As far back as family can remember she was involved in Altar Guild, an activity which she loved and passed on to her daughter. She also deepened her knowledge by completing a four-year theology program, Education for Ministry. Her faith was at the core of who she was and this gives the family some peace to know she is reunited with family in everlasting life and that we will join her someday.

Debbie also loved reading and always had “Kindle” with her, talking with people (if you ended up in a conversation with her you would need to set aside a few hours), and animals. Over the years there were many pets as Debbie had trouble saying no to strays. Especially the time her daughter named a stray cat after her mother to convince her to keep the cat. The cat stayed. Her latest cat, Gus, was a Velcro cat who could always be found napping on her chest.

Besides her faith, family was the most important thing in Debbie’s life. Whether someone married into the family, was an immediate family member, or a distant cousin, she considered them family and would do anything for them. She loved telling stories about growing up with all her cousins. Debbie watched her grandchildren until they reached school age, she enjoyed the time she spent with them and the special relationships they built.

She was preceded in death by her parents, many aunts and uncles including her Aunt Madalyn “Mike” Swearingen who held a special place in her life. Debbie had a beloved chocolate lab, Godiva, who was her loyal companion and friend for 14 years who also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her husband, K.C.; daughters, Jennifer Stokes-Wells and ex-husband Hinton Stokes, Stephanie Wells, and Melissa (Ryan) King; grandchildren, Hinton “J.R.” Stokes and Peytann and Brayden King all of West Des Moines; her brother, Dr. David (Mary) Morrison of La Crosse, WI; nephews, Dr. John Morrison of West Palm Beach, FL, James (Tia) Morrison of Atlanta, GA; and niece, Antigone (Kyle) Fitzpatrick of Chattanooga, TN; and many cousins, great-nieces and nephew, and extended family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Trinity Center and St. Croix Hospice for the loving care they provided Debbie.

A visitation will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines on Thursday, February 16, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. and the funeral mass on Friday, February 17 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 815 High St. in Des Moines. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sac City, IA on Saturday, February 18 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be given to St. Paul’s Altar Guild.

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