Derek Wade Wells, age 32, of Rowlett, TX, passed away November 20, 2019. He was born April 16, 1987, in Garland, TX, to Ray Henderson Wells, Jr. and Debra Ann (Mosley) Wells.
Derek was a talented artist, musician and body builder, as well as a complex young man; he was a comedian from the time he was a toddler, able to make everyone laugh with his funny antics. He picked up a guitar when he was a young boy and began playing it (by ear) as if he had been playing guitar all of his life. When his parents signed him up for guitar lessons, his instructor was in awe of Derek’s natural musical talent.
Derek was an amazing self-taught portrait artist, creating black & white and colored pencil life-like portraits of his nieces and other family members, and many celebrities from Elvis Presley and Taylor Swift to John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Derek’s art portfolio is large and diverse.
He was a certified personal trainer and fitness aficionado, with a passion for working out and helping others achieve their fitness goals. Derek was physically fit, handsome, loving, fun and funny. Talk about six-pack abs!
He was blessed with many talents, but Derek’s most outstanding accomplishment was being a daddy to his 7-month-old precious baby daughter, Baby Aries, who was the light of his life. He made her smile, coo and shriek with laughter by his daddy-doting comicalness. Derek and Aries will sadly and painfully miss out on a lifelong special father-daughter relationship. Derek had the good fortune to meet Taura, the love of his life and Aries’ mother. Aries will be in exceptional care by her mother, Taura, and her grandparents, Ray and Debra, and her other adoring relatives.
Derek is survived by his parents: Debra and Ray Wells of Rowlett, TX; love of his life: Taura Gooder of Rowlett, TX; daughter: Aries Marie Wells of Rowlett, TX; brothers: Jeff Wells of Garland, TX, and Lee Wells of Lavon, TX; nieces: Lexi Moore, Preslee Wells and Leah Wells; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his infant son Orion Wade Wells.
Derek’s time on earth was short, and he will be forever remembered and sorely missed by his loving family and friends. A Celebration of Life service, officiated by Dr. Steve Leatherwood, will be held 2:00pm, Tuesday, November 26, 2019, at Rest Haven Funeral Home in Rowlett, TX. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the funeral home, immediately following the service, with refreshments served.
