I am sorry to announce Bajalou passed away last night. I received a call from his wife this morning and she said it was a peaceful exit and he was
not in pain. He had been battling lung cancer for the past year. This winter was the first he was not in San Felipe for many years. It is a sad
day.
In healthier, happier times...
Ken Cooke - 5-9-2012 at 04:36 PM
This was the last time I saw BajaLou - I bought him Breakfast in San Felipe at the Green House. Such a great friend I will never forget.
DianaT - 5-9-2012 at 04:38 PM
Very sad news --- :sad:Ken Cooke - 5-9-2012 at 04:48 PM
woody with a view - 5-9-2012 at 04:52 PM
RIPMexitron - 5-9-2012 at 04:53 PM
I'm so sorry to hear of this...he mentioned a while back about having some medical problems but I had no clue it was terminal. Lou was one of a very
few people who visited us in my tenure in Fort Worth, TX. That was so nice of him. I'll never forget his smiling face when we first met after the
San Pedro Mission hike (with Jack Swords et al). Damn....damn, damn, damn. RIP buddy.Mexitron - 5-9-2012 at 04:58 PM
Lou and Tina in Fort Worth, July 07
Taco de Baja - 5-9-2012 at 05:14 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
II'll never forget his smiling face when we first met after the San Pedro Mission hike (with Jack Swords et al). Damn....damn, damn, damn. RIP
buddy.
Me either. I will sure miss his addition to the BN community through his knowledge of Baja. Very sad day.BajaWarrior - 5-9-2012 at 05:23 PM
Lou and I became fast friends as I helped and organize leading groups on the BajaNomad President's Day Weekend for three years in a row. Our last trip
was Feburary 2011 and that was the last time I saw him. Lou will be sorely missed in the San Felipe area, what a nice guy. Our condolences to his wife
Teina...fdt - 5-9-2012 at 06:58 PM
Sad news. RIPBAJACAT - 5-9-2012 at 09:38 PM
Another star for the Baja sky, he will be miss,, The President's Day Nomad Ride will never be the same with out him...
Im glad a had to share Mission Impossible with him and that long walk in the arroyo...
see you later my friend we are not that far behind...Sallysouth - 5-9-2012 at 10:39 PM
RIR Lou.Never knew you but in a way I did, through this board.Via con Dios Sir!tripledigitken - 5-9-2012 at 11:11 PM
RIP
Adios Baja Amigo Lou
David K - 5-9-2012 at 11:18 PM
The Nomad community lost one of its excellent members and his happy smile and glad to help attitude, as well.
I met Lou in 2004 in Parral Canyon, as did 'jide', 'Mexitron', 'Taco de Baja', 'Huddo', and 'Pappy'...''
Lou was an excellent host at his group campout and was quick to hike well beyond the beaten path seeking the source spring.
Later we would enjoy the massive turkey feast hosted by Teina and Lou and their neighbors near San Felipe....
Their last New Years Turkey Feast was 2008/2009... and we were lucky to have been there with other Nomads:
Baja Lou and El Comandante Loco
Now Lou loved to make GPS maps and travel all the roads in the region... He always freely shared his work and discoveries.
Almost exactly one year ago, Baja Lou came to join us (TW, Bill W, dtbushpilot, XRPhlang, BajaCat, El Vergel and I) on the crazy but oh so fun 'Lost
Mission Santa Isabel' expedition... Lou towed his quad to El Volcan arroyo from San Felipe, but the terrain didn't permit him to use it. Not a problem
for Lou, he just hiked the entire trip with us... and he handled the heat and rigors better than most of us, I think!
Baja Lou and Baja Cat, 2011.
Here is my last photo of Lou, in Arroyo el Volcan, just one year ago...
VAYA CON DIOS MI AMIGO... You will be greatly missed!Neal Johns - 5-9-2012 at 11:25 PM
A big loss to the Nomad Board and his family and friends.BajaBlanca - 5-10-2012 at 06:20 AM
RIPUdo - 5-10-2012 at 06:33 AM
Rest in peace, Jaja Lou...he will no be visiting with my mother.DENNIS - 5-10-2012 at 07:12 AM
I am so sorry to hear this. Lou always had something helpful to add here.
DEP Lou.bufeo - 5-10-2012 at 07:27 AM
Very sad. My condolences to Lou's family.
Allen R.
Baja Lou
Corky1 - 5-10-2012 at 08:28 AM
Met lou several years ago in San Felipe.
I had a truck with motorcycles on it.
He approached me and asked if I needed a safe place to keep truck and trailer while off riding south.
He said I could park it at his place in El Dorado.
That started a long friendship that also include a lot of other bike riders that met him.
I have been in contact with him via e-mail since he moved to New Mexico.
RIP Lou.
CorkyBajajorge - 5-10-2012 at 08:55 AM
Bajalou a fixture around Baja and an all around well liked, good guy. Would drop everything to fix your broken stuff, or give you advice or info. The
old desert rat will be greatly missed.TMW - 5-10-2012 at 09:05 AM
RIP Lou. The last time I saw Lou was during the mission walk. I loved the turkey feast he and his wife put on. He will be missed.El Camote - 5-10-2012 at 09:26 AM
What a huge loss! Lou was a prince of a guy. Can't count how many mechanical scrapes he got me out of. I loved hanging out under his palapa with he
and Teina shooting the chiite. The New Year's Turkey feast was the best. Lou had an ageless quality about him - just seemed like he'd live forever.
Goodbye Lou, thanks for all your help and friendship. bajajudy - 5-10-2012 at 11:13 AM
I have tried to live by his signature since the first time I noticed it.
"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference"
Must have been a heck of a guy
RIPBajaGringo - 5-10-2012 at 11:48 AM
I never had the pleasure to meet you in person Lou but really enjoyed your helpful posts here on Nomad. Sounds like you had a long, rich and rewarding
life filled with many good friends and loved ones.
Godspeed my friend...teinatoo - 5-10-2012 at 01:21 PM
Dear Nomads, I want to thank you all for your kind and loving comments and a special thank you for the pictures from Ken, David and Mexitron. You
guys are all so special and wonderful. Lou loved the adventure of Baja and sharing on Nomads and even when he didn't have the energy to post he would
read and enjoy.
I read to him during his last few days all the wonderful stories that people were sending about their experiences with Lou and maybe by the end he
was seeing how much he was loved. He was always so humble and unassuming and I am so glad that I could give him that gift at the end.
Heaven had to get a little bigger to let Bajalou in.
Teina Wells
Teina
BajaRob - 5-10-2012 at 02:17 PM
Connie and I are so sorry. Lou touched many of us in a special way that will never be duplicated. The last time that I saw Lou he loaned me his map. I
will always treasure it and the time spent. I wish that I could have written more in my email but I was risking shorting out my keyboard. If there is
anything that we can do for you
here let us know. God Bless and may Lou fly with the Angels.ArvadaGeorge - 5-10-2012 at 02:41 PM
sorry to hear of this loss
our world is less without him
[Edited on 5-10-2012 by ArvadaGeorge]
Mr. Baja!
mcfez - 5-10-2012 at 03:26 PM
The gentle giant of Baja ...........BajaLou. May you rest in peace..... my friend. I am sure that God rearranged heaven to look just like Baja for
you!
I meant Lou many years ago here on the BN. I was asking about Sand rails and he had all the answers for me. I promised him a fish taco for the
help....and over the years he would remind me that I owed him a fish taco :-) He never got that taco, but he did indeed get a friendship that lasted
thru the BN, the u2's, emails.......and finally face to face a few years back. I always looked forward to seeing him whenever I visited SF.
I say a gentle giant because he was never mad at anyone....never had harsh words......just a guy with a great smile and a big heart. He had knowledge
to share about Baja.........and a mind that was sharp as a razor. Who couldn't like a guy like Lou?
I have known about Lou's illness for some time now. He never let that get into his way. Always positive.....always looked forward. I'll miss that
little smirk smile that he kept on his face :-)
Lou had a home at the El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe, known for many fantastic Holiday meals......his outings with the gang here.......his helping hand
to all in need. He passed away in New Mexico, where his other home is. Goodbye my friend. Good bye Mr. Baja.
BajaLou at the 2010 McFestival in San Felipe.
I would like to suggest.....that a remembrance page be added to the BajaNomad site.......to honor our Nomads. Also, I requested to Doug that this
topic be moved from the News to the General Topic area. Thanks Doug.
[Edited on 5-11-2012 by mcfez]Ken Cooke - 5-11-2012 at 10:27 PM
I remember going to Restaurante El Minuto at Lou's recommendation for breakfast.
Real good times and good food with Baja Lou.tunaeater - 5-12-2012 at 12:01 AM
Baja Lou was a dear friend of mine and my family. When I started racing motorcycles in 2005 Lou was there for me. Lou educated me on which race
radios to buy and how to buy them. He came to my house in El Centro and modified my race radios.
We used Lou's property in El Dorado many times over the years to stage trucks, bikes and race supplies. He was always willing to help out anyway he
could. Lou would always be on the malecon in SF for contingency. We would hang out and talk over the race strategy and plans. The races that ended in
SF Lou was always at the finish line. When a race went through SF Lou was always there cheering me on.
Through the years Lou and I became close. He would stop by my work often in El Centro to say hi and chat for a while. One day he was there and didn't
have anything to do that night. I told him to go to the local movie theater and watch Dust to Glory.
On my visits to San Felipe I would call him out as I was driving past El Dorado. He would come back and tell me to turn to another frequency so we
could talk. I only went to one of his New Years festivals. My youngest son at the time was only nine weeks old and I think the oldest guest was in his
late 80's or 90's.
Lou was a man of great spirits,so much positive energy came out of him. He always thought of the best outcomes in any situation.
A man with so much knowlege and expeirene he loved to share.
I thank him for his friendship and support for the many years he gave me. I will miss him greatly and will always call his name as I pass the
Rockodile sign on my trips to San Felipe.
Teina you are in our thoughts as well. A loving wife and a friend of ours. If you ever need anything we are here forn you.
Lou I love you and will always remeber the true friend you were.
May you rest in peace in the skys over San Felipe. Watch over us like the angel you are.
Your buddy Tunaeater
[Edited on 5-12-2012 by tunaeater]Desert Rat - 5-12-2012 at 12:33 PM
I just recieved notice from Don Jorge concerning Lou's passing. What a shocker! It's been several months since I read the Bajanomad board and had
no idea that Lou was ill.
My condolences go out to Teina, Lou's family and all of his good friends in San Felipe. Lou offered his help, along with Wornout, to assist me on a
solo trip to Diablo Canyon and later with another trip Diablo with Don Jorge. Both times, he went all out to make the trips successful and
enjoyable. What a treat it was to have known Lou! Rest in peace, Lou and thank you for being my friend.pappy - 5-13-2012 at 11:45 AM
mexitron, taco, - that was a special day. lou was one of the gems of the earth. may he rest in peace...GregN - 5-13-2012 at 02:59 PM
Over a dozen years ago, I rode with Lou and Bruce Barber as they led others on a dune buggy adventure through the San Felipe desert. Saw Lou again in
SF last year. A real class guy. He will be missed.teinatoo - 5-14-2012 at 12:41 PM
Dear Nomads, I wanted to thank you again for all your stories and pictures. Here is the obituary I am submitting today. Credit to Ken Cooke for that
great Photo, thanks Ken
.Louis Edward Wells
5-17-33 5-8-2012
Lou made transition peacefully at home on Tuesday May 8th with the dignity and grace by which he lived. ( just short of his 78th birthday)
Lou was born in Fruita CO and was proud to have served as a U.S. Marine. After his service he married and raised a family in California where he
worked for many years for different railroads, retiring from the Southern Pacific.
Moving to Baja, Mexico in 1995 he met and married his wife Teina. They enjoyed many activities and hosted an annual feast which brought the
community
together. His passion for exploring and mapping the San Felipe desert lead him into many off road adventures with a wide network of friends and Baja
enthusiasts. He will be forever remembered for his talent and willingness to turn a wrench for whoever broke down.
Lou and Teina moved to Truth or Consequences in 2007 as snowbirds and became more permanent residents thereafter. Lou divided his time between
Baja and T or C while Teina was more full time in NM.
Survived by wife Teina Barrett Wells, also son Edward D. Wells, daughter Cynthia A. Duke, both of Lake Elsinore CA. Preceded in death by son
Darrell A. Wells and first wife Beverly Wells.
Cremation has taken place and celebration of life will be held at the Patio at the Dam Site on June 7th at 4:30. Another service will be held in
San Felipe at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to Desert Mothers SA DE CV, a no-profit organization in San Felipe, Mexico which trains local women in marketable
craft and art. These may be given to Teina, brought to the celebration or mailed care of Donna Roberts, PMB 1327, PO Box 9011, Calexico, CA 92232TMW - 5-14-2012 at 03:28 PM
Thanks Teina. Lou had a lot of friends that miss him.angels4 - 5-14-2012 at 03:38 PM
Rest in Peace and may his family find comfort in the memories he left behind.bacquito - 5-14-2012 at 04:35 PM
I did not know him but it sounds like he contributed greatly to Baja Nomad .
R!P
Baja Lou @ Georges (11/24/06)
Ken Cooke - 5-14-2012 at 05:10 PM
Baja Lou discussing the Northern Baja region with Tom Severin of Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
Ken Cooke - 5-14-2012 at 05:43 PM
David K - 5-14-2012 at 05:44 PM
Nice photos Ken... Do you have some of Lou at the Off Road Expo? I will see what I have...Ken Cooke - 5-14-2012 at 05:50 PM
Unfortunately, I do not. (l to r) Frigatebird, Surfer Jim, TW, myself, and David K.
RIP
