Gerald (Jerry) D. Wells, 58, of Railroad Flat, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at his home on the family ranch in Railroad Flat after a long battle with cancer.
Jerry was born at Mark twain Hospital in San Andreas on June 20, 1956 to Fay and JoAnn Wells. Jerry lived most of his life in Calaveras County, attending Valley Springs Elementary and Calaveras High School.
After graduating with the Class of '74, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, completing his service in 1976 as a Sergeant.
Returning to Calaveras County, he worked at the Calaveras Cement Plant and took classes at Delta
Junior college.
Buying a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 1981, it became the focus of his creative energy and a visual testament to his mechanical prowess, keeping it all-American, to the point of having parts custom machined locally, rather than buy a foreign part.
Following a dream sparked by an ad on a matchbook cover, he traveled to New Jersey to become a commercial diver, living in Toms river, New Jersey and working underwater along the East Coast.
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995, he returned to Calaveras county in 2000, living in Glencoe, then at the family ranch in Railroad Flat following the passing of his father, Fay Wells, in 2008.
Diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004, he fought both the MS and cancer for many years with the strength and determination to not let those illnesses stop him from taking care of business.
Throughout these challenges, and even more characteristic of Jerry, he never complained, always maintained his sense of humor and brightened any room with his smile.
He is survived by his brother, Ken Wells of Santa Rosa, sister Barbara Wells Sinfield of San Diego, wife Susan Wells, daughter Sarah Wells and her children John Aguilos, Jesse Aguilos, Jerryka Anzar and a great-grandchild Yesenia Aguilos.
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