Constance "Connie" Wells

Constance Delia “Connie” Hoskins Wells, 90, of Ponderay passed into the arms of Jesus on July 30, 2014 at home with her family and precious pets Charlie and Lucy at her side. Graveside services will be held at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River, Idaho. She was born on Aug. 14, 1923 in Leslie County, Kentucky the daughter of Charles and Wanda Hoskins. She grew up in Leslie County, Kentucky. She attended elementary school in Hyden, Kentucky and spent her Jr Hi and High schools years at a boarding school in Brea, Kentucky. Her mother loved to garden and work their fields so Connie would be responsible for her three younger brothers, Bruce, Walter and Gary. She often remembers one brother who had gone out too far in the river and tears came when she recalls him calling, “Save me,’Tis’ Save me”. While serving in the US Navy she met Robert Vernon “Bob” Wells and they married on Dec. 7, 1945 at Treasure Island, California. They then moved to Priest River, Idaho where their four boys were born. She became a teacher in 1963 and after the family moved to Sandpoint taught second graders at Lincoln and Farmin schools until her retirement in 1980. Connie was a wonderful artist and was driven to keep her hands busy. She painted, did needle point, and quilting. She had an eye for color and often dyed some of her own fabric in the form of “marbling” which she used in her quilt making. She taught her skills and shared her fabrics generously. She had a green thumb and shared her blueberries which she and her husband raised at their home in Hope during retirement. She was a member of the Clark Fork Valley Quilters, and after her retirement from teaching volunteered many years tutoring students at Hope Elementary School. She is survived by four children: Bob (Julie) Wells of Portland, OR, Vernon (Lynn) Wells, Bruce (Donna) Wells, Gary (Roberta) Wells all of Sandpoint; 3 grandchildren: Tove, Nichole, Melissa; 3 great grandchildren: Ava, Charlotte, Jayden; 2 brothers: Walter (Elaine) Hoskins of Dallas, TX, and Gary (Gloria) Hoskins of Valdosta, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 1 brother Bruce, an infant sister and an infant daughter. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Theresa Stevens and Linda Lockman for the loving care given to their mother over the years. The family suggests memorials to Bonner Community Hospice, 602 N. 3rd Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.