MaryKay Wells

MaryKay Wells was born December 28, 1942.  She left this world peacefully on December 14, 2020.  She would say her life was normal and at times unremarkable, but nothing could be further from the truth.

She was born of John and Beulah Brady Wells in Phillips Texas.   They lived many years at the SherHan Phillips Camp.  She graduated from Gruver Texas High School where she was a basketball player, and “pretty good for a short girl”.

She attended Oklahoma State University, obtaining undergraduate degree in history. She met her first husband Robert Carr, and had 2 children Scott and Krista.  They traveled often for his work and she remained in Southeast Alaska after their divorce.  She was a rock climber, and involved in community theatre.  She was an accomplished seamstress, and made costumes for the theatre.  She loved to create historically accurate costumes and combined her love of history and research.  Later in life she donated her vintage hat collection to the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

She met Robert (Bob) Reed, whom she later married, in Sitka Alaska where she worked as a librarian.  She obtained her Masters in Library Science at the University of Hawaii and returned to Alaska.  They lived many years in Alaska, moving to Texas to be closer to her parents.  She worked at Irving Public Library, before moving to the Texas Panhandle where she became the System Coordinator for the Texas Panhandle Library System.  She retired from this position from the City of Amarillo.  She was a voracious reader, lifelong learner, and shared her knowledge freely.  Her great granddaughter Alayna often would remark “call Nini she knows everything”.  It became running family fun to try to ask the most interesting questions to see if she knew…her mental Rolodex for information was unparalleled.

She preferred being outside, and even as a young girl started gardening with potted strawberries. This developed into a lifetime love of playing in the dirt.  She became a Master Gardner, and had a robust herb garden.  She later taught in-services on herbal healing, combining aromatherapy.  She volunteered teaching horticulture at the Neil Women’s Correctional facility, and consulted on their prison garden.

She and Bob would travel to track and field and Volleyball games to support their beloved granddaughter Sydney Carr.  Sydney and her Nini had a special relationship anchored in love and unfettered honesty. She welcomed Justin Johnson openly into our family and developed a special relationship with him.

She cultivated amazing friendships with strong, intelligent like- minded women, her Soul Sisters and many others.  She was a feminist before it was fashionable, having kept her maiden name her entire life, advocating for women and women’s rights.  She was active in politics, worked on local campaigns in her younger years.  She was immensely proud of America, proud of Ginsberg’s legacy, for having elected Obama and most recently the first woman Vice President.

She is survived by her sister Gail Curnutt and spouse Jerry.  Her son Scott Carr 52 and wife Cindy along with their children Carson Mistretta and Lauren Carr of Marietta, Georgia.  A daughter Krista Kay Carr of Georgetown, Texas but was a long time resident of Amarillo, Texas.  Granddaughter Sydney Kay Carr and partner Justin Johnson and their daughter Alayna Kay Johnson; a beloved cousin Nancy Duttenhofer and spouse Park, two nephews; Kelly Curnutt and wife MaryTom their sons Riley and Tommy and nephew Kevin Curnutt.  She leaves many friends, a special neighbor Ralph, Special bonus grandchildren Erin, Nicole, Vanessa, and Sammie as well as countless people she has touched in her lifetime.

To honor her wishes there will be no services and during Covid she would never want anyone exposed unnecessarily.  We welcome any stories or desire to share in the online guest book to afford anyone closure.  If lead to send a memorial In lieu of flowers, please consider the High Plains Food Bank and Community Garden, your local pet shelter or any neighbor or stranger in need.