Edwin Leroy Wells

Edwin Leroy Wells was born January 17, 1936, to William Jasper and Flora Etta Wells in the Choctawhatchee National Forest, present-day Eglin Air Force Base. He was the youngest of 12 siblings. At four years old, he and the rest of the family were moved from their home due to the creation of Eglin Air Force Base. They relocated a few miles away to the Holley area, just south of East River, where he resided until the day he was called home to the Lord on September 5, 2022.
He was a graduate of Milton High School. While attending Milton High, he drove a bus, picked up kids in the Holley area, and transported them to and from school. After graduating, he worked construction until getting hired at Stephens B-Line as a mechanic. He married Julia Harvell in 1956, and she was by his side for 66 long, loving years. He would continue to work on cars out of his own garage for the rest of his working life. After leaving Stephens B-Line, he worked at the Santa Rosa State Bank and became Vice President. While working at the bank, he became a real estate broker and started a real estate company, Wells Agency. He would continue to do real estate work for the duration of his life. Around 1970 he worked with Farmer's Home Loan association to secure the funds to start the Holley-Navarre Water System to assist with getting residents of the Holley-Navarre area clean drinking water. He was president of this organization for many years. He left Santa Rosa State Bank and started working for the State of Florida Insurance Commissioner's Office. During this time, he started his own insurance company, Wells Insurance. He then went to work for First Progressive Bank of Brewton, where he became president and chairman of the board. He loved to hunt, fish, garden, and take care of his family. All of these passions were shared and are being continued with the three generations of family that he leaves behind.
He is survived by his wife, Julia Wells; five children, Carleton (Susan) Wells, Clifton (Yolanda) Wells, Clayton (Jennifer) Wells, Julie Dore, and Clinton (Shannon) Wells; grandchildren, Brad (Teresa) Willnecker, Tyler (Crystal) Manning, Dylan (Kirbi) Manning, Christopher (Morgan) Wells, Carly (Will) Cary, Danielle (Ronnie) Hackman, Jordan Wells, Jessica (Ryan) Ealum, Caleigh (Will) Abbott, Carson Wells, and Landon Wells; great-grandchildren, McKenzie Willnecker, Hailey Coleman, Aubrey Willnecker, Layken Abbott, Mason Manning, Rhett Manning, Briella Abbott, Nolan Manning, Ainslee Manning, Shepherd Manning, Ava Hackman, Colt Wells, Blakeley Abbott, Charlotte Cary, Wells Ealum, Jack Cary, Ellie Hackman, and Teagan Ealum.
Visitation will be Saturday September 10, 2022, from 11am-12pm at Billory Baptist Church, 8162 Stillwater Cove Navarre, Florida 32566, followed by a funeral service at 12pm. Interment will be at Harper Cemetery.