Doris Smith Wells died at home in Madison, Wisconsin, on October 1, 2022. Born August 9, 1934, in Palatka, Florida, her parents were Ira Sylvester Smith and Maude Viola Ragin, both from the Palatka, Florida area.

Doris graduated from Palatka High School and maintained friendships in Palatka all her life. Doris had many blessings from God. She always made time for conversation with family and friends; her favorite hobby was music and singing. One famous story was that her dad would take her to the Palatka radio station to sing. She was a faithful member of the Palatka First Baptist Church.

Doris met her future husband, Bernard E. Wells (Bern), who both worked at Hudson Pulp and Paper. Doris and Bern married on March 29, 1953, in Palatka. Raising their family, they lived in West Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas. Her job was as a housewife and mother. As the children grew up, her subsequent career was in fashion. She worked for many years assisting people with clothing choices, including the chance to talk. She and Bern spent countless happy hours with grandchildren in New Braunfels, Texas.

After retirement, Doris spent cherished time with her daughter Marcie and son-in-law Terry in California and New Mexico. Later she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to live with her son Mark, daughter-in-law Jeanne, and grandchildren Mark Jr., Olivia, Ava, and Josephine. Son Matthew talked with her almost every day. While living in Madison, Doris attended Mass with her family at Saint Christopher Parish in Verona, Wisconsin, and decided to become Catholic. She loved attending Mass and sang beautifully there a few days before her death. She loved attending any event, especially her scheduled visits to adult day care, playing bingo and cards, and visiting with her family and friends.

Doris is survived by her children, Michael Wells, Jeannie Wells, Mark Wells Sr., Jeanne Wells, Marcie Burns, Terry Burns, Matthew Wells; grandchildren, Floyd Russell, Tiffany Smith, Forrest Wells, Savanna Wells, Michael Wells, Mark Wells Jr., Olivia Wells, Ava Wells, and Josephine Wells; and great-grandchildren, Noa Smith and Parker Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband of 51 years, Bernard E. Wells; twin sister, Iris Smith Waldock; and sisters, Marjorie Smith Garmon and Rose Ellen Smith Boyd.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH, 301 North Main Street, Verona, WI 53593. A visitation will be held from 9:30AM until time of Mass on Tuesday at the church.

An additional service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at MASTERS FUNERAL HOME, 3015 Crill Avenue, Palatka, FL 32177. A visitation will be held from 1:00PM until the time of service on Sunday at the funeral home. Burial at Ft. McCoy Cemetery, Ft. McCoy, FL.

We express our gratitude for all the support from family and friends. Thank you to UW Health's Home-Based Primary Care Clinic, Dr. Melissa Dattalo, Amy Millard, NP, and the fantastic staff. Thank you to Then and Now Adult Day Center and Agrace Adult Day Care Center. Finally, for the team at Agrace Hospice, you are our heroes, our angels on earth. Thank you. Donations in memory of Doris can be made to her youngest granddaughter Josephine's school at https://funrun101.pledgebrite.org/fund/stpeters2022/josephine-wells. Saint Peter Catholic School, 7121 County Road K Middleton, WI 53562. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services Verona Chapel 220 Enterprise Drive 608-845-6625

Doris Wells

August 09, 1934 - October 02, 2022

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