Lavar Wells

Hanksville, Utah – Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, William Lavar Wells passed peacefully in Prescott, AZ on March 26, 2022 at the age of 79, surrounded by his wife and children. Lavar was born June 17, 1943 in Price, Utah, a son of William Winfred and Dortha Pearl Prettyman Wells. He married Susan May Owen, his high school sweetheart, on Sept 3, 1960 in Hanksville, Utah and together they raised 6 children. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple October 8, 1969. Lavar had wide practical knowledge on a great many subjects and loved to teach others what he knew. As a father, he instilled in his children the importance of a good work ethic, of leaving things better than how you found them, and of finding joy in service. His children remember him as a service-oriented friend to all and a pragmatic problem solver who encouraged them through his genuine pride in them and their accomplishments. Lavar had a life-long love for flying and enjoyed sharing his love with others. He was in demand as a flight instructor and helped dozens of individuals get their wings and others to master backcountry flying - he was exceptional at both. Prior to his career in aviation, Lavar co-founded Unzicker and Wells Drillng Company and worked as a contractor developing water wells and drilling for oil and uranium exploration throughout the west. Lavar was a self-taught musician who played everything by ear favoring guitar, piano, fiddle, harmonica, banjo, and mandolin. He was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and a dedicated member of the Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving as a missionary with his wife in the Marshall Islands within the Micronesia Guam Mission in 1997-1998, as Bishop in Hanskville, and a Temple worker in the Manti LDS Temple. Lavar is survived by his wife Susan of Hanksville; his children, William Kenneth (Rhonda) of Hanksville; Sharon Jeanette Shafer (Gary) of Kirkland, Arizona; Brenda Dawn Maughan (Bret) of Beaverdam, Utah; Clinton Aurther (Amy) of Santaquin, Utah; Caleb Lavar (Stacey) of Williston, North Dakota; and Charity Susan Jackson (Jared) of Hanksville; 28 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren with 3 more expected this year; his siblings, Donald Laroy (Sharlet – deceased) of Hanksville and Marion Lee (Shauna) of Kirtland, New Mexico. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Winfred and Dortha Pearl Prettyman Wells. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. in the Hanksville LDS Ward Chapel, where friends may call for viewing Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Hanksville Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah. The family would love to gather memories, stories and photos on his Facebook page or email them to s.wellstvbar@gmail.com.