Dr. Kenneth E. Wells

Dr. Kenneth Edward Wells, PhD



Dr. Kenneth Edward Wells, PhD, 83, reposed in the Lord on Monday September 17.

2018. He was

born in Deming, New Mexico on July 5, 1935, to E.L. (Jack) and

Francis Mary

Wells. He was

preceded in

death by his parents and brother David Wells. He is survived by his longtime companion Burney Talley (Fr. Gabriel) and his beloved cats Boots and Skeezix and their friends. He is also survived by numerous cousins, including Dr. James P. Byrne, MD (Amy), James P. Byrne III (Heather) and son Liam James Byrne, Jan Heavener (Charles) and grandson Anthony, Robert Jones, (Tana) and their children Chris (Sandy), Graham, McKinsey, and Spencer, Randy Jones (Phyllis)

and sons Kendall

(Brandyn) and Justin. In

his high school years, he became interested in his Jewish background and he traveled each Saturday by bus from Deming to El Paso to attend Hebrew classes at the local synagogue. He became proficient in Hebrew and the Jewish faith. As a young man Ken excelled in playing piano and organ. He was variously the organist at his church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church and at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Deming. Working in his parents' mercantile store, and taking Spanish lessons in public school, he became proficient in Spanish selling to a large migrant population. Upon graduating from Deming High School, he attended Hendricks College in Arkansas for one year before transferring to the University of New Mexico. While attending UNM he majored in education and music and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating, he was hired by Albuquerque Public Schools where he taught elementary school with emphasis on music. He subsequently moved to California where he applied for and received licensure as a social worker. He made

the highest score on the exam of anyone who had taken the test up to that time. He worked in Oakland, California for several years before returning to New Mexico. When he returned, he was hired by Dr. William Sears to help prepare patients at the New Mexico State Psychiatric Hospital to return to their respective communities. Ken received a grant from DVR to open a drop-in center named "The Coffee House" located at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral who provided space for the center. This agency was the first in New Mexico to provide Antabuse to interrupt addictive alcohol use. Marty Mann, the first female member of Alcoholics Anonymous, was on the Board of Directors for the Coffee House. After several years, the operation and services of the Coffee House were taken over by St. Martin's Hospitality Center. Seeking to explore his Laguna Pueblo roots, he applied for and was hired as Director of the Laguna Service Center to provide

services for substance abuse and mental health

treatment. After several years as Director of the Service Center, he was hired as Division Manager for Community Services, which was the umbrella agency under which the Laguna Service Center operated. During his years at Laguna, Ken studied the Laguna language and spirituality. He made many

friends and developed closer relationships with his Laguna relatives. As the result of conversations and brainstorming with fellow therapists, his next pursuit was starting a community based non-profit outpatient counseling agency. The

goals for the new agency, that came to be called Counseling and Psychotherapy Institute, were to provide outpatient services to for those needing them with the intention of always providing services whether the person could financially afford them or not. The clinic was very successful and continues to operate 40 some years later. Dr.

Wells employed counseling interns from surrounding universities like Highland University, St Francis University and UNM. He provided the interns with valuable experience, clinical supervision and his general love for all who came through the doors. He retired three years ago and left the operation in the hands of very competent existing staff members. Ken was always a religious seeker. He explored his Episcopal and Jewish faith, but also explored Sufism, Bahia, and his Laguna Pueblo religion. In later years, he became deeply involved with the Orthodox Church. He was Tonsured a monk and ordained as a Cantor. His excellent singing voice enhanced the Liturgical

services immensely. As

his health was failing and he was no longer able to participate in his Orthodox services, he and Fr. Gabriel affiliated with Our Lady Queen of Angels Liberal Catholic Church. Its deep mysticism and sacraments and their acceptance of all religious faiths was appealing to Ken and Fr. Gabriel as well.

A Requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Angels Liberal Catholic Church, 1701 Tulip Road NW, Rio Rancho, New Mexico on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow the services. Arrangements and

food will be provided by Mark and Jean Bernstein, owners of the Flying Star Restaurants.

Ken didn't know stranger. His open and loving nature made him welcome everyone he met as a friend. All of Ken's friends, relatives, professional peers are welcome to attend and participate in Ken's transition.

Cremation services were cared for by the Neptune Society.