William Bryan Wells III

William Bryan Wells III, age 59, passed away on July 27, 2025. Collier Butler Funeral Home and Cremation Service is managing the final arrangements, and a memorial service will be held on August 2, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. at Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter on 156 South 9th Street, Gadsden, AL 35901.

Bryan was born on June 22, 1966, in Gadsden, AL. He was a graduate of the University of Alabama where he was president of Theta Tau fraternity and received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree. Bryan was an engineer for TVA for forty years. He enjoyed walking his dogs, spending time with his children and family, watching (and debating) Alabama football (or anything, really), reading books, and going on adventures. He loved to learn and knew so many things about almost every subject. He was the perfect blend of kind, loving, snarky, skeptical, helpful, intelligent, witty, hilarious, and caring. He showed his love for others by his actions. He was selfless and would do anything for anyone. He helped his brothers with various construction projects, cared for his elderly father, attended every game or important event in which his children (and often nephews and nieces as well) were involved. He was an amazing father and loved his children more than life. He loved boating, fishing, camping, and all things nature related. He was self-deprecating and made his mishaps into the most hilarious stories which were always followed with a small laugh and a sheepish grin. Some of those mishaps included surviving two tornadoes and spending the night stuck in Bonnaroo traffic two years in a row because he was oblivious that there was even a concert going on! He was known for his dry-wit, love for coffee, and his ability to do almost any engineering or construction task. You name it, and he had done it at least once. Growing up, he and his two brothers were known to everyone that knew them as “the boys” and you rarely saw one without the others. His brothers always said that he was “the good one”, but we think his daughter said it best when she said, “He was everything.”

Bryan was predeceased in death by his mother Kathy Smithson, stepfather Bob Smithson, and stepmother Joan Wells; his grandparents Clifford Reavis, Eva Norton, William Bryan Wells, and Hazel Wells; his aunt and uncles Scott Wells, Diane Wells, Butch King, Scott Varner, and Kip Reavis. He is survived by his children Collin Wells and Allison Wells Helfert (Clayton); his father William Bryan Wells Jr.; his brothers Warren Wells (Tamie), and Clint Wells (Misti); his aunts Carol Eubanks (Randall) and Jeanie Varner; his nieces and nephews Josh Wells (Janine), Dillon Wells, Jason Wells, Baxter Wells, Rachel Shaw (Pate), and Reilly Wells; and cousins Jean Marie Banks (Glen), Leigh Davis (Chris), Craig Smith, Melinda Sellers (Michael), John Eubanks; and many 2nd cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marshall County Christmas Coalition (www.christmascoalition.org).