As any of you know, the marriage of Vivian to William Wells produced nine children.  Although most of those have since left us, they themselves have left behind their numerous children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (probably some great-great-grandchildren, who knows?.)  I would like to try and get as many of the offspring of William & Vivian together for one helluva Texas-style re-union.

     My name is Gary Lee Wells (technically, my last name is Reinert because when my Grandfather, Artie Lee Wells, passed away in 1950 at the age of 32, my grandmother remarried Mr. Reinert who adopted my father, thus . . . well, you get the picture.)  Sometime in the late 1950's my father, Artie Len "Wells" Reinert, ran fast from the state of Texas and joined the Navy to . . . I don't think he saw much of the 'world'; but he left Texas nevertheless.  What he did see when he arrived in port in Seattle was my mother, Susan Mary Laffin (b1942, d1998) and on October 4, 1960 they were married - they actually got married by the JP in Canyon, Texas, about 18 miles southwest of Amarillo.  I am the third son of that marriage, born July 5, 1965 in the small mountain town of Snoqualmie, Washington.  I have lived in Washington state most of my life, with the exception of living in or near Amarillo for one year in 1969, and again in Happy, Texas--"The Town Without A Frown"--in 1979-1980.  I guess my distance from Texas is what has kept me from meeting most of the offspring of William & Vivian.  I believe I have met all of my Grandfather's siblings at one time or other.  And I distinctly remember spending time on Uncle Mike's ranch in Antlers, Oklahoma with Melvin and Melba and her painted pony--gosh, that had to be as far back as 1969.  Their older sister lives here in Washington, but I have seen her only once, about twenty years ago.

     I have seen some recent pictures of a gathering of surviving siblings which must have taken place just before Aunt Louise passed away a few years ago.  If I had known of the re-union I would have tried to attend.  I don't get much news of the family in Texas, except when another of the siblings passes away.  I guess there are only three remaining. 

     I am setting up this web page as a way for all of us to get in touch and stay in touch--as much as that is possible in this busy world.  I would like to see as many of Grandpa and Grandma's children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great . . . you know what I mean, get together for a re-union.  I guess Abilene or Coleman would be a good venue.  I am open to suggestions.  Somewhere on this page you will find my email address, my snail-mail address, and my phone number.  Get in touch with me through any of these.  I will update this page as needed to keep every aprised of any re-union of this magnitude we can get off the ground.  Please forward this link to any family members you have an email address for, that is about the only way I know to get the word out there.