Tansy Reece Wells

Tansy Reece Wells passed away on Oct. 4, 2023, in her home on Anderson Street in Greencastle. She was 86 years old.

Tansy was born on April 10, 1937, in Kokomo to Stanley Reece and Ruth Deisch Reece.

She graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1955, from Indiana State University in 1959 and DePauw University in 1977.

She married John Edward Wells of Terre Haute in 1959. They were married for 57 years.

Tansy taught at schools No. 90 and No. 75 in Indianapolis, at Cloverdale Elementary in Cloverdale and at Jones Elementary, Ridpath Elementary and Tzouanakis Elementary in Greencastle.

Tansy loved teaching and loved second-graders. She also loved sharing children’s literature with her children, her grandchildren and every child she ever met.

Tansy is survived by her children, who were the joy of her life, daughter Barbara (Michael) Jane Stewart of Spencer, son John Christian Wells of Louisville, Ky., daughter Mary (William) Catherine Wells of Lisle, Ill., and son Michael Stanley Wells of Fairfax, Va.; much-loved grandchildren Brian (Brittany) William Smiley, Mary Catherine Stewart and Patrick William O’Connell; great-grandchild Brian Frederick Smiley; brother Lew (Elena) Reece of Portland, Ore.; and nephew Joel (Melissa) Glassburn of Kokomo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband John Wells of Greencastle; sister Julie Reece of Kokomo; sister Martha Reece of Camby; and nephew Scott Glassburn of Kokomo.

According to Tansy’s wishes, there will be no visitation. A private family mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church was held on Oct. 7.

In lieu of flowers, Tansy requested that donations be made to the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, P.O. Box 423, Greencastle, IN 46135, or to the Riley Children’s Foundation, 30 S. Meridian St., Ste. 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204.