Funeral services for Eloise Odessa Wells, 90, of Livingston, Texas, will be held Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas with Bobby Powell officiating.  Interment will follow in the Oakdale Cemetery in Livingston, Texas.  Visitation will be held Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. until service time in the Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston, Texas.

Eloise O. Wells went home to be with her Lord Friday, January 15th at her daughter's home in Bronson after a short stay. Eloise was born September 15, 1930 in Danville, Arkansas to Algie W. M. Kilgore and Ethel (Norris) Kilgore, who have preceded her in death, along with brothers, Louis Mack Kilgore and Ruben Kilgore; husband, Earl Wells Sr.; two sons-in-law, Roy Griffin and Charlie Creech; daughter-in-law, Charlotte Wells; and great granddaughter, Scarlet Wells.

She is survived by daughters, Brenda Saleme and husband Jim of Bronson, Texas, Janna Griffin of Cleveland Texas, and Sandra Creech of Pineland, Texas; sons, John E. Wells Jr. and wife, Elaine of Livingston, Texas, and Carl Wells and wife, Sandy of Hemphill Texas; 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Eloise came to Texas as a small child with her family as they moved around picking cotton.  When she was 8, the family loaded up an uncle's truck for the trip from Deport Texas to Livingston. They only got as far as Mt. Pleasant, when her dad had a fatal stroke on Christmas Eve. They finally got to Livingston and settled in the Oakdale community. Her mother remarried William (Bill) Chisolm, and the family continued getting work in the cotton fields all around Texas. At the age of 15, she married Earl Wells, and went from the cotton fields to the pipelines. After 2 children, and another on the way, they settled "just down the hill" from where her existing house is today. They moved a few times more, but never far away from the "Hill" where Earl was raised and his mother still lived. Their 4th child was born during that time and in 1962 they moved to Pineland when Earl got a job at the lumber mill. Their last child was born there. Earl's Mother (Anner Wells) died in 1967, and they bought the old home place soon after. Earl was disabled in 1976, and a few years later, they had the original house moved over a little and begin to build onto it. As most people that were acquainted with her know, Eloise was a very talented woman in ways not many would believe. She was determined to build her house with as few professional workers as possible; and she did. The original house had a bedroom and kitchen, which she remodeled; and with only the help of "drying in" she added two bedrooms, a bath, and living room. She loved to work in her "shop" where she made benches, stools, night stands, chairs, cabinets, small boxes for photos and documents. And so many other items, that most everyone couldn't believe she had made. In the winter when it was too cold to go outside, she would crochet or quilt, and not on a fancy quilting machine. Most were done by hand, and hung from the ceiling and quilted with her fingers. Early spring would find her outside getting the garden ready for planting. For many years, the entire hill was plowed and planted with vegetables (leaving a few spots for herzinnas and coreopsies, or whatever her flower fancy was that year). As she got older, the garden got smaller, and the soil less fertile. Her garden of 2017 was the last she would be able to do. Her health began to decline. But even with building a house, woodworking, gardening or quilting, Eloise always made time for her Lord. She was involved in her Sunday School, WMU, WMA, Choir, Choir trips, and pageants. As her health declined, she had to give up those things, but she never gave up the opportunity of having Bible discussions with her children, or singing all "the ole songs".

During her last year, she would repeatedly sing  "I'll be Somewhere Listening" (sometimes to our displeasure even though we loved the song, it did get old) So we would interrupt with I'll Fly Away or When we all get to Heaven; or others you don't hear much anymore.

Eloise Wells:  mother, Granny, Granny on the hill, Gammie, Sister, Aunt, Friend...She will be missed!

Mrs. Wells will be escorted to her grave by her grandsons.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com .