Photo No. 2780

Thomas "Tommy" Wells of Hemphill died peacefully Friday, October 10, 2025. He was born on June 1, 1955, at St. Therese Hospital in Beaumont, to Catherine Elizabeth Rooney and James Milton Wells, Jr.

He attended St. Pius Catholic Church in Beaumont for pre-k and graduated from French High School in 1973, working at Dickie's Drive-In to pay his way through school.

A proud Texan and longtime resident of Sour Lake, Tommy made his home there in the early 1980s before settling in Hemphill shortly after retirement.

He began his electrical career with Gulf States Utilities – later known as Entergy Texas – where he worked his way from lineman to the relay department over more than two decades of dedicated service. In the early 2000s, his career led him to Diamond Offshore where he served as Electric Supervisor aboard The Ocean Confidence and Chief Electrical Engineer aboard The Ocean Endeavor, including during the historic Endeavor relocation from waters off the Egyptian coast, across the Mediterranean, and into the Black Sea. He retired from Diamond Offshore in 2015, completing a distinguished 30-year career as a master electrician. He came out of retirement in 2018 to take a job at JBT Electric in Beaumont, where his knowledge and experience landed him a supervisor position on his first day. He finally retired from full-time work for good in 2020.

In his later years, Tommy discovered a love for pickleball – often traveling for competitive tournaments and helping transform unused tennis courts at the Rayburn Country Resort into new pickleball courts. He was a proud member of a close-knit group of local enthusiasts who shared his passion for the game.

An avid fisherman, Tommy found peace out on the water. After retiring, he moved to the Fairmount area of Hemphill, near Toledo Bend Reservoir, where he could be close to the lake. He often sent his daughters and friends photos of "the big one," always with a grin and a story to go with it.

A natural leader and a devoted neighbor, Tommy was elected president of the Laguna Shores HOA shortly after moving into the community. He took pride in the role, working tirelessly to improve the amenities and quality of life for his fellow residents.

Tommy's grandchildren were his greatest joy. Whether taking them for rides in his Ranger Polaris, cruising the lake in his boat, or laughing together on the golf cart, those were the moments he cherished most.

Tommy was a man who never met a stranger. Large in stature and even larger in personality, he was the life of the party. When he walked into a room you certainly knew he was there. He could fix anything, brighten any room, and always had a story or joke ready to share. He was a family man who loved his family deeply and wasn't afraid to show his love for anyone whom he cared about. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Mae Wells; daughters, Kelsey Conner and her husband, Andy, of Dayton and Kayla Spell and her husband, Ronnie, of Sour Lake; bonus sons, Jody Singleton and his wife, Melissa and Bill Travis and his wife, Angel, all of Beaumont; sister, Kathy Koy of Katy; grandchildren, Savannah Singleton, Molly Conner and Hannah Conner; great-grandchildren, Ryder Singleton, Axel Dickerson, and Westyn Singleton; and grandchildren on the way, Thomas Owen "Tommy" Spell and Lily Maye Travis.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jimmy Wells; twin brother, Terry Wells; and grandson, Dakota Singleton.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.