Lucile Wells

Lucile Mathews Wells passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2016. She was cared for by several of her loving children on a daily basis throughout a six month illness which culminated in hospice care. Lucile was born in McRae, Georgia on March 2, 1926, to James and Opal Mathews. She, along with her parents and younger sister Shirley, moved to Plant City Florida in her early childhood where her father continued his sharecropping until his premature death when Lucile was only ten years old. She went on to graduate with honors as the Salutatorian of Plant City High School in 1944 where she also played basketball and tennis and participated in numerous school organizations. She attended Florida State University, and on June 1, 1945 married her sweetheart, Phillip R. Wells who was a World War II veteran, having flown 69 aerial combat missions in the Twelfth Air Force as a radio/tail gunner in the North African campaign. They met at a NCO dance at Mc Dill Field in Tampa where Phillip was stationed. Lucile lived in various locations across the world and in the United States, including Tripoli, Libya, Greenland, Alaska, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina supporting her husband in his military service career. Along the way, she gave birth to her eight children who would become the focus of her life. Upon her husband’s retirement from the military, they moved back to her beloved hometown of Plant City, Florida for several years before relocating to Houston, Texas in 1968. Lucile worked for 22 years for Southwestern Bell in the accounting and benefits department.

She was the loving mother of eight children and being “Mom” was her most important role. She was known as “Mee-Maw” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her love for her children and grandchildren was unconditional, profound, and without end. She had an indomitable will. She fought hard to overcome many obstacles for so many years to stay with them, but it was time for her to experience God’s warm embrace and to be with long lost loved ones. She was beloved by all who knew her because of her kind and loving nature. Her sweet, gentle spirit, sharp mind, and motherly intuition will be greatly missed.

Lucile is survived by seven of her eight children: Phyllis Kirkby and husband Warren of Tomball, TX; James Wells and wife Pamela of Cypress, TX; Phillip Wells of Cypress, TX; Dr. Diana Wells and husband Dr. Patrick Meehan of Santa Cruz, CA; David Wells of Cypress, TX; Wayne Wells and wife Lisa of Front Royal, VA; and Kathleen Wells of Tomball, TX. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Sean Kirkby, Brian Kirkby, Chris Ripple, Sondre’ Ripple, Sara Vige, Benjamin Wells, Matthew Wells, Elizabeth Everts, Erica Willis, Britany Wells, Taylor Wells, Isabel Meehan, Owen Meehan, Elizabeth Sisk, Jennifer Sisk; by 26 great-grandchildren; by her nephews Chan Surrency, Tim Surrency, and her niece Becky Jackson. She was predeceased by her husband, Phillip Wells, and daughter, Elizabeth Ripple.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Tomball Kindred Hospital and Grace Care Center at Northpointe for the compassionate care they provided.

Visitation will be Friday, December 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home, 13102 North Freeway, Houston, TX, 77060. The funeral and celebration of her life will be Saturday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Cypress United Methodist Church, 13403 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress, TX, 77429. Interment will follow at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Reach Unlimited, 12777 Jones Road, Suite 103, Houston, TX, 77070 or at www.reachunlimited.org.