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Obituary: Marcella 'Toni' Wells

| November 16, 2010 2:51 PM

Marcella “Toni” Wells, 88, died

peacefully in her sleep at home with her daughter by her side on

Nov. 12, 2010.

She was born Sept. 4, 1922, in Buffalo,

N.Y., eldest child of John Emil and Glyde McClarren Grimm.

She completed her early education there

and attended the Art Institute of Buffalo.

In 1943, she enlisted in the U.S.

Marine Corps, serving with the First Marine Corps Air Wing. She was

honorably discharged as sergeant.

In 1944, she married decorated

Guadalcanal veteran and Montana native, Marine Master Sgt. Phil L.

Wells.

After the war, they made their home in

Great Falls where two children were born, Kathleen Patricia and

Phil Lee Jr. During those years, Toni began what was to be a

lifetime career working for the American Red Cross.

When Phil was recalled to active duty

during the Korean conflict, the family followed him, living where

his U.S. Air Force duties allowed families to accompany him.

During an assignment to Bermuda, two

more children were born, Douglas John and Sally Brooks.

Wherever Phil’s military career took

them, Texas, Mississippi, California or Michigan, Toni continued

her Red Cross work, sometimes volunteering for the local chapter or

as an employee of the national organization.

She directed service to military

functions on bases and served on national disasters.

Upon Phil’s retirement in 1966, the

family settled in Lakeside. She worked for Montana Red Cross in

numerous leadership and honorary positions.

After Phil’s death in 1979, Toni

accepted overseas assignments for Red Cross on U.S. Naval bases in

Diego Garcia and Japan. In 1998, she was recognized for 50 years of

service.

In her early years Toni found pleasure

in swimming.

She also developed a talent for writing

and drawing which continued to interest her in retirement.

Throughout her life, acting was a

passion.

She performed on TV and radio, in

theater and even in one Japanese “monster” movie. Locally she was

active in community theater productions.

In her later years Toni traveled

extensively, recording these adventures in journals.

Reading occupied many hours and she

enjoyed discussing books with the AAUW “Lunch Bunch.”

She practiced speaking, competing

successfully in speech contests and representing the state

“International Training in Communication” clubs at an international

contest.

The Glacier Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship provided her a supportive spiritual community which she

treasured.

As she aged, Toni found fulfillment

hosting small groups, gathering them at her home to read plays,

discuss current issues or simply to sip tea and talk.

Toni was preceded in death by her

daughter, Kathleen; son, Philip; and husband, Phil.

She is survived by her wonderful family

— son, Douglas, and his wife, Mary; daughter, Sally, and her

husband, Ted Gigrich; son Philip’s wife, Barbara, granddaughter

Amii Limpp, and grandsons, Chaim Wells, Philip III and his wife,

Kami, and Douglas Wells Jr., and granddaughter Patricia and her

husband, Jared Wood; grandsons PFC Ted Gigrich, U.S. Army, and PFC

Michael Gigrich, U.S. Army; her two beloved great-grandsons, Henry

and Sean Wood; her brother, Richard Grimm, and wife, Judy, of

Medford Lakes, N.J.; and sister, Eileene Gardner, of Cassadaga,

N.Y.

There will be no graveside

services.

Memorial service details will be

announced at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to the Glacier

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1515 Trumble Creek Road,

Kalispell; or to American Red Cross of Montana, Northwest District,

P.O. Box 2406, Great Falls MT 59403.