Kathryn M. Wells

Published 2:57 pm Monday, April 28, 2025

Kathryn M. Wells, age 101, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in 1924 on a peach and apple farm in Cashtown, Pennsylvania, Kathryn (known affectionately as “Kathy”) was the oldest daughter of Blanche and Glenn Musselman. After graduating high school, she moved to Baltimore where she worked as a receptionist. She met through her cousin, the love of her life, David Wells. The couple married in 1949 in a charming country church in Pennsylvania, beginning a devoted partnership that would span 43 years until David’s death.

The newlyweds settled in Manhattan, where David worked as an accountant for RCA. During this time, Kathy accompanied David on his business travels, exploring the world together. She often reminisced about their adventures in Japan, Scandinavia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. After the birth of their second daughter, Susan, the Wells family relocated to Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, where they would build their lives for over twenty years.

In 1978, Kathy and David moved to what would become their beloved forever home in Tryon, North Carolina. They immediately joined The Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Tryon where David served for six years on the UCC World Board. Kathy and David were also instrumental and founding members of Hospice of the Carolina Foothills with Jack Allen and Tracey Lamar, in 1981. Kathy’s dedication to hospice care was remarkable—she volunteered for over thirty years, shared care of the very first hospice patient with Nan Holden and even traveled to England to meet hospice founder Dr. Cicely Saunders. She was honored and recognized by Hospice of the Carolina Foothills for her thirty plus years of dedicated service. Her compassionate service extended to the Thrift Barn and Hospice House, where she worked tirelessly as a patient companion.

Kathy was renowned for her warm hospitality and culinary skills. She delighted in hosting gatherings for family and friends, and her legendary parfaits remain a treasured recipe at family celebrations. Summers held a special place in her heart, as she retreated to her cottage in Georgian Bay, Canada. There, surrounded by dear friends, she created lasting memories fishing, picking wild blueberries, and swimming.

Kathy’s vibrant spirit and generous heart touched countless lives. She has now reunited with her husband David, daughters Carolyn M. Dandurand and Susan Wells Gautsch, and siblings Glenn Musselman and Jean Morgan. She leaves behind a loving legacy through her four grandchildren: Andrew Wells Gautsch of Jersey City, NJ; Russell Everett Gautsch of Astoria, NY; David Dandurand of Knoxville, TN; and Lauren Robinson of Memphis, TN; as well as four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Kathy’s remarkable life will be held at The Congregational Church, UCC in Tryon at 11AM on Saturday, May 3rd. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, the organization that held special significance in Kathy’s life.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com 

McFarland Funeral Chapel

Tryon