Sandra “MiMi” Wells Welsh

Sandra “MiMi” Wells Welsh, entered in Heaven to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on Sept. 11, 2017. Sandra is predeceased by her mother, Rebecca Craig Wells, her father, William Stone “Red” Wells, and brother, William E. “Billy” Wells. Sandra is survived by her husband, Sam, of 42 years. Sister, Mary Campbell. Daughters, Delyse Jaeger, husband James, Kelley Keen, Gaye Lynn Welsh Mackie, husband, Thomas, Victoria Welsh-Poe. Grandchildren, Garett Jaeger, Alley Keen, Averi Keen, Tanner Keen, Sam Mackie, Landry Mackie, Jackson Poe and Madelyn Poe. Nephews, Craig Wells, wife Blanca, children Rebekah and Ashley, Wesley Wells, wife Kristy, children Hannah and Walker, Niece, Wynde Wells Stinson, husband Jimmy, son, Ben. Niece, Leigh Campbell Porter, husband Greg, son Stone. Henderson, Texas Sandra was born in Henderson, Texas, September 30, 1938. Her father, a practicing attorney and District Attorney, in Rusk County. A new opportunity with Gulf Oil Company legal department had Red, Rebecca, Billy and Sandra packing up and moving to Houston in 1940. Home on Lexington and “The Vacant Lot” Home was on Lexington Avenue and the 1940s were filled with plenty of family fun and children gatherings in the vacant lot next to their house. Baseball, Tag, Hide’n Seek, Kick the Can, Marbles, Tops, and Football. Football was Sandra’s favorite, and she was chosen on Billy’s team every time. The older boys had a hard time catching Sandra as she caught the ball and ran for a touchdown! Billy said she was so fast and they were undefeated and the envy of the neighborhood!!!!! Animals were a big part of her youth, with a horse, and dogs - Red, Sandy, and Bomber. Sandra’s love for animals will be filled throughout her life. She loved the time her daddy would let Bomber sit in the drivers seat and Red would be in the passenger seat cruising up and down Lexington!! Neighbors marveled at how Bomber could drive a car!!! Sandra’s daddy joined the Navy and she said he was so handsome in his white Navy uniform. She remembered her Sunday go-to-church white gloves matched his uniform, how proud she was of her daddy. When he returned from World War II, the family continued their attendance as members of Rice Temple Baptist Church, where Sandra was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Their daddy read from the Bible every Sunday night as the family gathered around the fireplace. Her sister, Mary Ethel, became the attention of Billy and Sandra on many occasions with much humor and fun for all three. Well, maybe Billy and Sandra on some occasions!! They locked her in the attic several times. Rebecca called out, “Sandra!, where is Mary Ethel? Did you and Billy put her in the attic again?” – Laughter from Billy and Sandra in the living room as they let Mary Ethel out of the attic! Sandra and Billy continued to create mischievous events such as lighting candles in a closet. Clothes catching on fire and then on a 4th of July, throwing lighted sparklers on the roof of their house. The family were at the dinner table, knock on the door, fireman and a fire truck outside, with an announcement from the fireman- “Ma’m your roof is on fire, we will have it out in few minutes!!” Rebecca hollered , “Sandra, Billy!!!” What fun for all the Wells family and neighbors on Lexington. Sandra loved the two story house with a screen porch and specially the vacant lot, where Saturdays were filled with joy and excitement. Sandra attended Poe Elementary, Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School. Never a dull moment at Lamar with Sandra and lifetime friend, Barbara, when they spent many hours in the principal’s office for mischievous pranks on some of their classmates. Sandra’s classmates and neighbors would be her extended family and dear friends for the rest of her life. Baylor University After graduating from Lamar High School Sandra headed north to Baylor University, with Barbara of course, in the fall of 1956. Billy was a senior at Baylor and kept a close eye on Sandra. Sandra was a Baylor Beauty! She was the Queen of the Social Club, Tri-C, and at the Mayfate parade, famous for their floats, Sandra was perched on a globe “two stories” high! A ladder firetruck was used so she could climb on top of the float. A harrowing experience as Sandra was afraid of heights. Holding on for dear life, she bravely waved to the thousands along the parade route in downtown Waco. Her sophomore year was somewhat of a challenge when some of her friends were transferring to the University of Texas. She called her daddy and asked him if she could transfer to UT. He said “Sweetheart, if you can pay for it, go ahead”. She stayed at Baylor! Her sophomore year, a special moment in her spiritual life, she attended a revival with Baylor classmates to see Reverend Billy Graham. An experience she never forgot. Corpus Christi, Texas After Baylor, Sandra married and lived in Corpus Christi where her daughters, Sandra Delyse McCann and Kelley Wells McCann, were born. Houston, Texas Later moving to Houston, Sandra began her professional career as a Secretary to Vice- President of Sales at Magabar Oilfield Services. Later she accepted a position as Executive Secretary to the President of Stationers, Inc. on Richmond Ave. She helped develop sales forecast and new business opportunities. Her work provided travel to several industry conferences. Her sense of humor was priceless even into her work, and on a customer call to a family friend, Norman, at his office, she noticed all the Baylor diplomas, awards and recognitions hanging abundantly on the wall. She said, “Norman, where did you buy all these certificates?” Norman answered, “Oh Sandra, that hurts.” In September 1975, Sandra and Sam married at the St. Phillip Presbyterian Church in Houston. A loving relationship that lasted more than 41 years. A combination of their work and friends would give them time to travel to Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, among other destinations. She loved the trips to Hawaii with Harold and Virginia and Alaska with Goober and Barbara. She loved many business trips with Sam to Washington, D.C. where she would venture out on her own to enjoy the many landmarks at our nation’s capital. As Sandra continued her professional career, she loved volunteering for many organizations. She spent many hours at the Houston SPCA and the Houston Humane Society, walking and bathing dogs, and cleaning out their cages. On the phone bank during TV telecasts she helped raise money for their care and adoption. She was dedicated to finding loving homes for all of the animals. She used her secretarial, marketing and sales skills to developed a new card catalog system that streamlined and accelerated the adoption process. She developed a comprehensive interview process that helped find loving parents and home for these beautiful cats and dogs. Many animals found homes quicker using her adoption process. Sandra had a love for sports as she did on Lexington Avenue, but this time, as an adult, it was tennis and bowling. She gave tennis lessons to her nephews, Craig and Wes at Brae Burn Country Club. Their dynamite serves were legend! Bowling was a sport she loved and excelled at individual and team level in Houston. She participated in the bowling Nationals in Reno, Nevada with her team from Houston. When Sam and Sandra moved to La Grange, she joined a bowling team and loved her new friends and the fierce competition. A 200 game was not unusual. Sandra inherited her humor and mischievous tricks from her mother. Nere an April Fool’s day went by without catching Sam with one of a kind April Fool jokes. Waking him one morning, telling him their dog, Kase, was outside and lost. Sam ran out to fetch Kase and as he ran onto the street in pajamas, with cars going by honking their horns, Sandra hollered, “Hey, do you know what day it is?” What a sight!! The same April Fools tricks were played on her mother, daughters, and friends. More than a million laughs!! One of many fabulous times was with her dear friend, Sandra, in Lake Tahoe, Nev. They paid the maître ’D’ big bucks to get a ring side table for the 1974 performances of Elvis Presley! Their table was level with and next to the stage and both were elated! They attended three concerts and Elvis made his way to their table three times and gave them both kisses and blue Elvis scarfs!! What a trip!!! Sandra spent many summers with her cousins, Nancy, Linda and Molly in Henderson, Texas. Sandra always said they were really like her sisters. Her loving bond to her cousins, nieces, and nephews was heartwarming and beautiful with so many fun and happy memories!!! Sandra, “MiMi”, loved her grandchildren more than words can express. Volumes will be written and remembered about Garett Jaeger, Alley Keen, Averi Keen, Tanner Keen, Sam Mackie, Landry Mackie, Madelyn Poe, and Jackson Poe. Can you picture MiMi and Garett on a camel!!! Riding along in a Sonora, Texas parking lot!!!!! Picture, Alley driving a golf cart on a country road at 30 miles per hour with MiMi holding on,,,, and Alley is 10!!!! Sandra often said how fortunate she was to hold Garett, Sam and Alley cuddled in her arms when they were just hours old. Her love for all of her grandchildren was so beautiful and their love for their “MiMi” will be treasured forever. La Grange, Texas Sam and Sandra were members of West University Methodist Church in Houston and transferred their membership to the Second Baptist Church, La Grange, Texas in 2006. Sandra always said how much she enjoyed sermons and Sunday School classes with Pastor Ellis. Sandra’s first order of business in La Grange was to join a bowling team. She loved her new-found friends and the competition was fierce every Wednesday night. Her 200 games were not unusual! In La Grange, she continued to volunteer. She loved her work at the Round-Top Carmine Elementary Library with Miss Lucy, especially being close to granddaughter, Alley. She donned the volunteer purple vest and enjoyed her relationships with many at St. Marks Hospital. Sandra’s girl friends were special—so many memorable times in local settings in Houston and travel to Hawaii, Alaska and many other places. And as Virginia, Mary Ann, Nancy, Marilyn, Ann and Coleen are waving goodbye, “Sandra, we love you!!!” Those on the other side Barbara, Jennie, Carol, Pat, Sandra, and many others-they are waving “Come on Sandra, we love you!” The family would like to give loving and special thanks to Hospice Brazos Valley “Angels”, Taneisha, Jo Ann, Janette, Laura, Amanda, Kailyn, and the many other caregivers that came to our house and those that gave loving support on the phone as well. And special thanks to Dr. Borgstedte and Dr. Blackwell for guiding and counseling our family along this journey. Special thanks also to Compassionate Care Givers “Angels”-- Loralee, and others that spent days and nights at our home with Sandra. We also give our love to Connie, Isaac and Javier for their heartfelt care for Sandra during this past year. Taneisha and Loralee gave Sandra unlimited love and devotion to keep her comfortable. Giving her love and hugs and smiles every day. And when Sandra smiled back, we all knew how fortunate we were to have our extended family by her side. Loralee was as close to Sandra as if she was her mother. Thank You, Thank You from the bottom of our Hearts!! Suddenly, July 10, 2017, her companion, Golden Retriever, Buddy, died. Although Sandra was unable to say “Goodbye Buddy”, they are together in heaven. Buddy loved Sandra and was continually by her side, her bed and her wheelchair. This chapter in Sandra’s life will be filled with unconditional love stories about her time with Buddy. Heaven Lexington And “The Vacant Lot” Now in Heaven, as Sandra looks out from the screen porch from her house on Lexington, she remembers the nights as a child she would look out at the “lightning” bugs. Two, three, she would count. A sight she enjoyed for many years on the front porch of her La Grange home. The cool breeze blows through the screens and beautiful memories bringing smiles and warmth to her heart. Sandra goes out into the backyard, and waiting for her with wagging tails, Shelties- Concho and Kase, Golden Retrievers-Redford and Buddy. She hugs them all! She raises up, “Mark, I didn’t know you were here!” Mark says, “We’ve been waiting for you cuz! Come on! lets go to the vacant lot! Billy’s there!” And today, on a vacant lot somewhere in Heaven, as the cool breeze blows and the leaves are falling from the big oak tree, children’s voices can be heard— laughter is everywhere. Underneath the oak tree is Sandra’s mother and father---sitting in lawn chairs waiting for the football game to start. Becky is smiling as she looks at Sandra, holding up her picnic basket with pimento cheese sandwiches and “Red” waves with a golf glove on his hand and tips his Baylor cap. Friends shout, “Hey Sandra! Hurry up, we are ready to start!!” “Billy!, Sandra is here!” “I know!” Billy says. “Hi Sis! Ready to play some football?” “Yes, I am!!!” I love you Billy!” “I love you to Sis” We love you Sandra—some day we will be with you on the vacant lot!! Memorial services will be held at Festival Hill, Edythe Bates Old Chapel, Round Top, Texas at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, assisted by Koenig and Strickland Funeral Home, La Grange, Texas. The family asks to give remembrances to Brazos Valley Hospice, and charities supporting relief efforts for families and animals due to Hurricane Harvey.