Dr. Candace Brownfield Wells, 74, of Wichita, Kansas, a native of Sedalia, died unexpectedly Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at her home.

Graveside services will be Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Crown Hill Cemetery in Sedalia, next to her parents. McLaughlin Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Born July 13, 1949 in Sedalia, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Lillian Brownfield Wells.

She is survived by a brother, Ted Wells, and his wife, Pat of Springfield, MO; a niece, Aimee Packard, and her husband, Scott, of Rogersville, MO; and two grand-nephews, Theo Packard and Charles Packard, of Rogersville. She is also survived by hundreds of retired and active classroom teachers throughout Kansas. She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Timothy Wells.

Dr. Wells was a lifelong member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Sedalia. She attended Mark Twain elementary school and graduated from Smith Cotton High School in 1967 where she was known to everyone by her nickname, Candy. After high school, Dr. Wells earned a A.B. degree in History at the University of Chicago in 1971, a M.Ed. in Secondary Education at the University of Missouri/Kansas City in 1973, and her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Oklahoma State University in 1980. She then joined the faculty of Wichita State University and the Department of Instructional Services where she taught until her retirement in August, 2011. During her years at WSU, Dr. Wells primary responsibility was the education of middle and high school social studies teachers. After retirement from teaching, she served two terms as a public member of the Accreditation Committee of the American Library Association.