Carol Jayne (Schmidt) Wells

Friday, March 25, 2022

Services for Carol Jayne (Schmidt) Wells were 10 a.m., Thursday, March 24, at Hill & Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, Mo. (660-476-2135). Burial was in Green Mound Cemetery, Harwood, Mo. Memorials may be made to Appleton City Fire Department or Pleasant Gap Christian Church and may be left at the funeral home. The funeral home's website is www.hillandson.net.

Carol Jayne Schmidt Wells, 79, of Butler, Mo., passed away at Medicalodge of Butler on Sunday, March 20, 2022. She was born to Wilbert and Fern (Nichols) Schmidt, on Feb. 12, 1943, at Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City, Mo. She spent her formative years on the family farm in Schell City, Mo. Carol attended Prairie Valley School, just two miles from her family home. Although she wasn’t 6-years-old on Jan. 1, on the recommendation of her teacher, Mrs. Lucille Kirby, she attended first grade when she was only 5-years-old. Carol said she had to go to school because her best friend, Lovell, who was already 6, was attending. At the completion of that year, Mrs. Kirby advanced her on to second grade. She attended Prairie Valley through the seventh grade, and then continued her education at Schell City.

Carol was a member of the Osage Prairie Valley 4-H Club in Vernon County starting as a junior member and continuing until she graduated. She received the “I Dare You” Award. She was enrolled in cooking, sewing, and even did a swine project for one year. She was a member of the Schell City Christian Church and was baptized on Nov. 16, 1952. Carol taught a Sunday School for children for several years. Carol graduated from Schell City High School in 1960. She was active in softball, basketball, and cheerleading. Carol was also active in choir and on the yearbook staff. Immediately after high school she worked as a secretary at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. In 1961, she went to work for Western Casualty and Surety Company in Fort Scott, Kan., and worked there until Sept. 1964.

On Sept. 12, 1964, she married Harry Edwin Wells. They were married for 56 years. He preceded her in death on Aug. 8, 2020. To this union, one daughter, Robyn Fern Schmidt Wells, was born.

After living in Independence, Mo., for three years, they moved to Butler, Mo., in 1968. When Carol and Harry purchased their present “pretty place”, it was overgrown in weeds. After a lot of work, they made it home and Hilldale Farm where they lived for 52 years.

Carol started babysitting in July 1979. She babysat many of the neighborhood children and she and Harry treated them just like their own.

Carol loved attending all events – ball games, band, choir, plays, rodeos, and weddings – supporting her “kids” in everything they did. Her favorite place was sitting on the sidelines cheering them on. She also served as the club leader and project leader for the Hudson Hustler’s 4-H Club for many years.

She began attending Pleasant Gap Christian Church in Butler, Mo., in 1968, and moved her membership there in 1972. She and Harry were very active in their faith and involvement in the church.

In 1985, Carol became the custodian of Hudson R-9 Elementary School and worked there until 1988. Carol and Harry became the owners of Main Street Feed Station in Butler, Mo., in 1987. In 1991, they purchased Town Square Hardware on the south side of the Butler square and continued until it closed in 2014. Her favorite activity for the store was Girls’ Night Out.

Carol was extremely proud of her two granddaughters, Kirstyn Wren and Kalyn Wells Eckhoff. They were her pride and joy. She was always interested in what they were doing, who their friends were, and what they wanted to do. She loved attending all of their events. She loved them “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck."

Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she loved decorating both inside and out. She and Harry entertained the Butler community during the holidays to view their Christmas lights and displays. She always had a variety of homemade cookies on hand to serve with coffee.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; and her parents, Wilbert and Fern Schmidt.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Robyn (Rob) Eckhoff, Butler, Mo.; two granddaughters, Kirstyn, Fulton, Mo., and Kalyn, Butler, Mo.; one sister, Elayne (Don) Hillsman, El Dorado Springs, Mo.; sisters-in-law, June Gardner, and Dorothy (Sam) Vantellman; brother-in-law, Robert (Dorothea) Wells; nephews, Brent (Vicki) Hillsman and Todd Hillsman; niece, Kelly (Scott) Barton; great-nephews and nieces, many extended family, and dear friends.