Tammy Lynn Wells, of Lubbock, Texas, passed away on September 27, 2026, at the age of 59.

To know Tammy was to know a woman who was impossible to forget. She was loud, outspoken, full of personality, and never afraid to say exactly what was on her mind. She had a way of talking to people that made it feel like she had known them forever. She loved meeting people, making friends, hearing their stories, and making sure that no one around her ever felt like a stranger for very long. Tammy had a heart for people. One of her greatest joys was making someone smile, especially when they were going through one of the hardest days of their life. She had a gift for giving—not because she expected anything in return, but because making someone else feel loved brought her happiness. Whether it was a kind word, a conversation, a thoughtful gift, or simply showing up when someone needed her, Tammy had a way of making people feel seen.

She especially loved her plants. Her love for them became another way she loved the people around her. If Tammy cared about you, there was a good chance she had given you a plant. She filled her home and the lives of the people she loved with things that could grow, bloom, and be cared for—much like the relationships she cherished so deeply. Tammy also loved sunsets, the moon, music, animals, and the beauty of God's creation. She saw something special in the simple things that many people might overlook. But above all of those things, Tammy loved God and she loved her family. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. Tammy was an active member of the church and, for the last ten years, faithfully attended The Refuge. Her relationship with God was something she carried with her and shared with those around her.

Tammy graduated high school and later earned her cosmetology license. She married Mark Wells on Christmas Day in 2000, beginning a marriage and a life together that would become one of the most important parts of her story.

She was so much more than a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a friend to many, and to those who truly knew her, she was the person you could call when you needed someone to listen, laugh, cry, or simply remind you that you weren't alone.  Tammy had a special way of giving the people in her life names and little pieces of herself. She called her husband, Mark, "Blue," and her son Reagan, "Diamond Blue." Her favorite niece, Sara, was forever "My Gypsy Soul." She lovingly referred to her husband's side of the family as "the Red Headed Tribe." These names were more than nicknames—they were little reminders of the love and connection Tammy felt for the people who made up her world.  And Tammy had a way of leaving people with words that stayed with them. One of the things she would tell people was:

"Wear your crown, wear your spine, and you will always shine."  Those words were Tammy. They carried the strength, confidence, individuality, and love that she wanted the people around her to carry with them.  She also had her own way of saying goodbye and sending love into the world:

"Peace and love to the One World Tribe."

For Tammy, there was always room for another person in her tribe. Friends became family, family became closer, and strangers rarely stayed strangers for long.

But the title Tammy cherished most was Grammy.  Her greatest joy was being a mother and grandmother. Her son; Reagan, was her pride, and her family was at the center of her heart. Reagan was named after Walter Patrick White, Mark's beloved uncle, a connection that remained part of their family's story. Tammy's love for her family was fierce, unconditional, and unmistakable.

Tammy is survived by her husband, Mark Wells; her son, Reagan Wells, and his wife, Hadlee; her granddaughter, Remington Wells; her brother, Gene Ritchie; her sister, Beth Little; her beloved nieces and nephews; and her many special friends who became part of her extended family.

Tammy is preceded in death by her mother, Ann Crist, and her father, Donald Ritchie.  And to those lucky enough to call her Mama, Grammy, wife, sister, aunt, or friend, she will always be one of the greatest gifts God ever gave them.  Wear your crown. Wear your spine. And you will always shine.  Peace and love to the One World Tribe.