Michele Wells

Arlene Michele Wells (Michele), age 41, passed away peacefully at home holding her beloved husband’s hand on November 25, 2020, following a courageous 3 1/2 year battle with Stage 4 colon cancer, and now resides in Heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Michele was born October 27, 1979 in Houston, TX, the only child of Nancy Sanger Butler and Michael Redford.  She attended school in the Klein School District before graduating from Marquette High School in Chesterfield, MO in 1997.  Michele also attended The Ohio State University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and St. Louis Community College before returning to live in Houston, where she worked for Infinity Group and ExxonMobil prior to her diagnosis in 2017.

She married the love of her life, William C. (Willie) Wells, on February 12, 2005 in Galveston, TX. Michele was a devoted mom to her fur babies Ally, Axel, Bella, and Rex. She and Willie loved to travel, and they made friends everywhere they went. Michele was an avid sports fan and loved her Astros and Rockets.

In 2019, Michele started Michele Bakes Cookies (later known as The Silver Icing) specializing in custom homemade, hand-decorated sugar cookies as a form of therapy following her many surgeries, procedures, and treatments. She was featured in Voyage Houston magazine, and her delicious cookies were enjoyed by clients, friends, and family.

Michele was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Charles and Anna Sanger; her paternal grandparents, Aubrey and Jean Redford and Edwin (Ned) and Dorothy Cleveland; her uncles, Larry Glash and Larry McNeill; and her fur baby, Ally.

Michele is survived by her husband, William C (Willie) Wells; stepsons, Wesley and wife Karly Wells and their boys Layne and Cole McElveen, and Joshua and wife Mariolein Wells; father and stepmother, Michael and Betty Redford; mother and stepfather, Nancy and Bruce Butler; stepfather, Mark Cleveland; sister and brother-in-law, Terra and Paul Crane; niece, Amanda Crane; nephews, Jacob Rogers, Anthony and Nathan Crane; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Nelva and Speedy Wells; aunts, Patricia McNeill, Tracy and husband Benito Flores-Meath, and Cathy and husband Robert Pierce; uncles, Randy Redford, Scott and wife Darlene Cleveland, David Cleveland, John and wife Donna Cleveland, Dennis and wife Janet Wells, and Jerry and wife Jeannie Wells; cousins, Tiffany and husband Sutton Pothier, Nicole and husband Trent Kay and children Gavin, Zoe and Greyson Chicosky and Kimbri Kay, Matthew and wife Anika Cleveland, Jeff Cleveland, Rachel and husband John Goen, and Valerie Flores-Meath; along with her many other family members and friends.

Michele loved and cherished every member of her beloved family, extended family, and friends!

Michele was such an inspiration to all of us and showed us how to fight with grace and dignity. She accepted her diagnosis like a soldier accepts their mission. She was not going to allow the disease to stop her or define her. When she was told challenging news, she embraced the challenge and marched forward and attacked it in her own way. She would not be told that she couldn’t do something or that she only had so much time left. Michele fought up until her last breath and was going to do things her way and on her terms.

For those of you who may be sad for the loss of Michele, don’t be. In her life, she accomplished what few could in the short time she was with us. Michele leaves great memories and her imprint on everyone she touched.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Michele Wells will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, December 12, 2020 at the First Baptist Church of West Columbia, 226 S. Broad Street, West Columbia, TX 77486

Fellowship lunch for friends and family will be held immediately following the service at the Family Life Center across from the church.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept my faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

In lieu of flowers, Michele and the family would prefer that donations be made to the Colon Cancer Coalition Houston in honor of Michele. Donations can be made at https://donate.coloncancercoalition.org/tributes-and-memorials/michelewells