Ruby Lee "Jimmie" Wells

WESLACO – The Passing of a Gentle Legend
The gentle strong soul of Ruby Lee “Jimmie” Wells passed into the Lord’s arms on Monday, December 8, 2014. Jimmie was born June 10, 1933 to Darius John “DJ” and Lillian Schwarz in Mercedes, Texas. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Wells, her sons, Doug (Cindy) Wells, and Chuck (Leah) Wells, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, as well as, her sisters, Katy Harold and Peggy Birch, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Jimmie is also survived by her loving employees, to whom she was a dear and loving friend too.
Jimmie was the youngest of four girls and grew-up on the family farm riding her beloved horse, Bob, everywhere. She and Bob would take off after school to her friend’s dairy farm to herd in and milk the cows. They would turn around and sell the milk. Jimmie’s belief in hard work and fun stayed with her until the end of her life. Even at her passing she was instilling wisdom to her grandchildren and asking her family to sing songs glorifying her Lord, whom she held a deep faith in.
At the age of eleven, Jimmie was struck with severe headaches. She was diagnosed with polio. It was thought that polio was contagious, so she was isolated from her sisters and father, and eventually sent to a San Antonio hospital built to handle polio cases. Like her times wandering the town with Bob, Jimmie spent time with the other children finding adventure in the hospital. That sense of adventure never left her, despite losing her ability to walk, and living a life using canes and scooters to get around. Jimmie swam, dove to 80 feet in the ocean numerous times, traveled with her husband and children, drove her children to swim and waterskiing meets, and did the same with her grandchildren. She attended her grandchildren’s functions and did so up until she was hospitalized, when she attended her granddaughter’s, Malarie Wells’ art show in November with her granddaughter, Wendy Wells. Jimmie’s courage to carry on and enjoy life defined her, not her scooter or crutches. It is a legacy her children and grandchildren carry-on.
Jimmie’s faith is legendary. She never was angry at the Lord for her disability. As a young girl and woman, Jimmie attended school and college at Baylor University, surviving both an earthquake in California while seeking treatment, and a tornado that ripped through the college campus. She dated and fell in love with her true love, Dennis Lee Wells, marrying him in 1955. They shared 59 years of love and life together. Jimmie raised her two boys without assistance, all the time taking them to church and creating a foundation of faith for them to grow from. She worked at the family store, Wells of Weslaco, traveling to Dallas over the years as a buyer, and helped manage the store. Jimmie was beloved by her employees, because of her kindness and willingness to listen.
Her faith in God, her family, friends and community, as well as, her cheerful loving nature is how Jimmie Wells will best be remembered.
Jimmie Wells’ funeral service will be held on Friday, December 12th at First Baptist Church of Weslaco at 10 a.m. All arrangements are being handled by the McCaleb Funeral Home of Weslaco.