Carter A. Wells (1948-2024)
Carter A. Wells, a beloved sailor and devoted family man, 75, of Harbor Springs, Michigan, passed away on October 18, 2024, after a long and courageous struggle with his health. Born on November 8, 1948, in Marinette, Wisconsin, to Samuel and Dorothy (Schrock) Wells, Carter grew up in Menominee, MI, and graduated from Menominee High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, often joking that he earned a PhD from the School of Hard Knocks, reflecting his practical wisdom and life experiences.
His heart truly soared when he was on the water. A lifelong sailor and boat captain, Carter spent most of his career in the nautical industry, including serving as the Harbor Master at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club. He logged more nautical miles than land miles, participating in 29 Chicago-Mackinaw and Port Huron to Mackinaw races, and accomplishing The Great Loop. In his younger years, he raced sailboats professionally in the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) in Fort Lauderdale and the Caribbean. Alongside his wife, he also owned an award-winning Bed & Breakfast in Lutsen, MN.
On August 15, 1974, Carter married the love of his life, Leanne Grace (Christensen) Wells. The two met in Menominee, MI, on a dock at the marina where they both hung out regularly, sharing a love for the water and sailing. The story tells it that Carter one day walked up to Leanne on the dock, looked her directly in the eyes, and told her he was going to marry her; she laughed at him. Together, they built a life filled with laughter, adventure, and a shared passion for the water, spending fifty incredible years raising their children and enjoying all the beauty that the world and its various waterways had to offer.
Carter enjoyed anything related to the water, from sailing and ice boating to gourmet cooking, hiking, and watching sunsets with his family while listening to Jimmy Buffett. An avid football fan, he passionately supported the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers, attending many games. He was a past member of the Little Traverse Yacht Club and the Menominee Yacht Club.
Carter faced chronic illness with unwavering courage over the last ten years, serving as a beacon of hope for those around him. He fought not just for himself, but to be present for his family through every life milestone, including the memorable day when he walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Known for his heart of gold, he always put others first, and his family is eternally proud of him and grateful for his unfaltering perseverance and strength.
He is survived by his adoring wife, Leanne; daughter Shannon (Jason) Bradford; son Andrew Wells; sisters Rita (Wally) Klaus and Sydney (Tom) Wells; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Samuel Wells, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to make a memorial donation in his honor, the family suggests St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
A celebration will be held to honor his life well lived at a later date.
It was with great sadness that we reported the death of Mary Walsh Yates, daughter of Edna Wells and Arthur William Walsh, and the last surviving member of the second generation of descendants of J.W. Wells. She died September 28, 2008, at age 88, in her longtime home of Lincoln, Nebr. She is survived by her three children, Silas Burnham Yates, of Castine, Maine; Sharon Yates Ewers, of Phoenix; and Willard Wells Yates, of Arlington, Va., and three grandchildren.
Mary Walsh Yates was born in Houghton, Michigan, on January 3, 1920. The family moved to Chicago in 1932. She attended the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass., then graduated from Connecticut College in 1941.
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She married Silas Burnham Yates in early 1942 and spend the war years in California while her husband served in the Navy. The young couple moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1945, where they remained.
Mary was active in local theatre as a set designer and spent many years mastering the art of watercolor painting. But her lifelong passion was riding dressage horses. She was a founding member of the National Dressage Federation and rode almost every day until the age of 77. She retired then only because her horse went lame.
She will be remembered by her family and many friends for her wonderful sense of humor, her outlandish and forcefully stated opinions, and her love of laughter.
I received notice of this loss from her daughter Sharon who wrote:
“I’m writing to let you know that the last of the Arthur Walsh – Edna Wells children has passed away. Mary Walsh Yates died at her home on September 28, 2008. She was 88. I’m also hoping you will be interested in some of the many many many photos and letters we have found squirreled away in the basement. Letters from Daniel Wells written from Europe in 1918 are among the most interesting. The quantity of letters and photos is overwhelming. We have a series of small photos of the Wells yachts, for example, and photos of Edna Wells in her wedding dress.”
In subsequent e-mails, Sharon has sent some fascinating photos from Mary’s collection, which we have added to the Photo Gallery page.
I had occasion to speak with Mary by phone in recent years and was deeply impressed by her warmth, her sharp mind, and her wise and interesting observations about family history and the life she had led. Her final months and weeks were comfortable, with frequent visits from her children. Her dog was with her right through the final few weeks of her life, which were spent in hospice care.
The Wellses far and wide extend our deep and warm sympathies to Mary’s children and to others who knew and loved her.
— B.W.