Louis Edward Wells

Louis Edward Wells, 61 of Moreno Valley, CA, formerly of Rock Island, passed away in his home on Thursday, July 19, 2018.  Visitation will be 4-7 pm Friday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island.  Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Saturday, August 4, in the Rock Island High School auditorium, where additional visitation will be an hour prior to service time.  Burial will be private at Chippianock Cemetery.  Flowers and cards can be sent to the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory in care of Iva Wells.

Louis was born on August 12, 1956 at Camp Irwin, California, the son of Iva Lee and Charles Edward Wells.  Upon his graduation from Rock Island High School in 1974, Louis attended Western Illinois University where he earned a double AA Degree in Clothing and Textiles and Business.  In 1977, he earned his BFA in Fashion Design from the San Francisco School of Fashion and Design. 

He immediately started his fashion and design career at Bill Whitten’s Studio.  After 6 months, Louis was promoted as his assistant.  The duo traveled with such artists as the Commodores, Journey, Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond. Then one day Louis was introduced to Earth, Wind & Fire when Bill sent him to repair their outfits.  In December of 1978, the band hired Louis to replace their wardrobe manager.  In 1980, Louis became Earth, Wind & Fire's official clothing designer.  He hired Vaughn Terry to assist him, and the two eventually became partners opening their own studio and worked in tandem for 6 years until 1986.  In 1983, Prince caught wind of Louis' unique sense of music fashion and brought him on board.  He gave the artist a new look and one that he continued to use until his death.  Louis designed all the costumes for the blockbuster movie, 'Purple Rain,' and remained with Prince for 3 years, during which time Earth, Wind & Fire was on a break from recording and touring.  In 1987, when Earth, Wind & Fire regrouped, they asked Louis to rejoin them and he had been their primary clothing designer ever since.  Over the span of his 38 year career, this one-time high school wrestler has designed personal and stage collections for Mick Fleetwood, Bobby Brown, Luis Miguel, Keith Sweat, Natalie Cole, and many other high profile artists.  In 2009, Louis was presented with the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Awards from the City of Rock Island. 

Those left to cherish his memory include his mother Iva Wells, nine brothers and sisters: Kae Wells, Charles Wells, Daryl Wells, Teresa Wells, Vera Wells-Cazy, Thomas Wells, Lori Wells-Iwuoha, Lisa Wells, Michael Wells; Son, Brandon Wells; Nieces and Nephews:  Kim Wells(Kae), Cameisha Lee, Tamika Winston, Dee Dee Madison, Andrea Wisdom (Charles), Cynthia Wells-McCoy, Dione Wells-Daniel, Erica Wells, Katonna Johnson, Deandre Lewis, Crystal Wells, Ezekiel Johnson(Daryl), Kerry Wells, Chasiti Scott, Perry Scott Jr,(Teresa), Nicole Davis, Fallon Moore Veronika Wells-McGlothan(Vera), Ashley Petty, Yolanda Wells(Lisa), and Mykeisha Wells, Michael Wells Jr, Jada Wells(Michael).  In addition, Louis also had forty-four great nieces and nephews.

Louis had an endless sense of humor and was quick-witted. He loved to tell stories and act them out as well.  He had a way of bringing joy and laughter with him wherever he went. You never felt sad or down when he was around.  Everyone loved him.  Not only did you feel his joy, but you also felt his love.  We will miss him in so many ways.  We look forward to the day when we can hear his laughter again and feel the warmth of his love, but until then, we will keep him close in our hearts.

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