Ima Wells

Ima Lee (Greenwood) Wells, 77, passed away Aug. 10, 2014, in Loveland, Colo.
She was born Sept. 23, 1936, in Buffalo, Okla., where she was raised. She excelled at swimming and music in her teenage years. She earned money working at the drugstore and movie theater.

She attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University where she was a cheerleader and received a bachelor's degree in education.

In 1956, she married Del Wells, a fellow student at NOSU. Ima Lee began her teaching career in a two-room schoolhouse in Kansas. She and Del taught in southern Kansas for five years before moving to New Mexico in 1963. She taught at Sandia Base in Albuquerque for 10 years and Las Cruces for 20 years at Loma Heights Elementary.

She got a master's degree in education from New Mexico State University. As a teacher leader in the People to People Student Ambassador Program, she accompanied high school students to Europe several times. She loved to travel and, in addition to Europe, visited Russia, Costa Rica, the Bahamas and Japan, among others.

Ima Lee was president of the National Education Association-New Mexico 1987 through 1992. She was elected to the NM Legislature in 1993 representing House District 37 and served one term.

In the late 1990s, Ima Lee moved to Rockford, Ill., and worked for NEA-Illinois for five years, became a Cubs fan and took to bicycling.

She returned to Las Cruces to work for NEA-NM until she retired at age 72.
Ima Lee was an avid Aggie booster, attending nearly all home football and basketball games plus women's basketball and volleyball. She also loved Southwestern art.
"Imy," as she was known to her grandchildren and great-grandkids, lived her later years in northern, Colo., to be near her daughter, Sherri.

She'll be remembered for her generosity, energy, hard work, dedication to education, political activism and great cooking.

She is survived by son, Jerri Wells, of Las Cruces; daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Ed Hursey; grandson, Hunter Hursey; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Breanne and Erich Ebbinghaus; great-grandchildren, Maxton, Tanner and Kendall Ebbinghaus; ex-husband Del, all of Loveland, Colo.; and brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Bonnie Greenwood, of Greenville, Texas.

Ima Lee was preceded in death by her parents, Bev and Loretta Greenwood and her sister, Beverly Ann Crocker.

Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with funeral services to at 10 a.m., at Getz Funeral Home burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Arrangements are with Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave, Las Cruces NM 88001. To sign the local online guest book visit www.GetzCares.com.