Orie F. Wells Jr., age 75, of Fife Lake, passed way peacefully Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at the Grand Traverse Pavilions surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 16, 1937 in Kalamazoo to Orie and Margaret (Custer) Wells Sr. On January 5, 1957 Orie married the love of his life, Elsie Vanderbrook. Together they raised four daughters.
Orie worked as a sheet metal Journeyman, Estimator and Fabricator. He has a patent for steel frame building, and owned and operated Primary Frame Systems. He and Elsie loved to travel and spent time all over the county managing motels for Shilo Inn. Orie’s grandfather was Rainbow Jim, the first fishing guide on the Manistee River. As a boy, Orie spent his summers helping his grandfather, he later would write a book about the fascinating life of Rainbow Jim.
Orie loved fly fishing and was an artist when it came to tying flies. He also enjoyed painting and drawing. He was a collector and he had a special fondness for porcelain rabbits. But of all the things Orie enjoyed, there was nothing he enjoyed more than spending all his time with his beloved wife Elsie. He even went to stay with her at the Pavilions just so he could be close to her.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 56 years, Elsie: daughters: Cindy (Jeff) Gerring of Fife Lake, Jeannie Zingg of Traverse City, Amy (Jeff) Delaney of Phoenix, AZ, and Lorrie Wells of Kalkaska; 7 grandchildren: Erica, Nicholas, Justine, Michael, Kali, Brandon, and Zachary; 3 great grandchildren: Rylee, Jackson, Landen, and one on the way; brothers, William (Sharon) Wells and Clarence (Sandy) Wells, many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Orie was preceded in death by a brother James Wells, a sister Nancy Warner and a niece.
A funeral will be held Monday, June 3, 2013 at 11 am at the Covell Funeral Home in Kingsley with visitation one hour prior. Burial will take place at Clark Cemetery in Fife Lake.
Memorial contributions in Orie’s name may be directed to the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Kinglsey.
