Kimberly Wells

Kimberly Wells died unexpectedly on Oct. 1, 2025 at 65 years of age at Tacoma General Hospital. She will be missed greatly by her many family members and friends in Grays Harbor and Gallup, New Mexico. Kimberly lived In Gallup, New Mexico for 32 years and worked for the Gallup School District, returning home to Grays Harbor in September 2019 to be with her mother Sandra Wells and brother Tom Wells Jr. In Kim’s early working years, she was Head Start teacher at the Ocosta School for two years.

Kimberly graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1979, then, went on to graduate from Grays Harbor College in 1982. After that, she went to Seattle University, Western University, University of Alaska, and graduated from Central University. She continued her education with obtaining a master’s in special education from Western New Mexico University and a master’s in early childhood education from University of New Mexico.

When Kimberly was three years old she fell in love with horses. She got her first horse at three and rode in horse shows until she went to Central University. When Kimberly was growing up, Kim and her horse Sabrina along with her dad Tom Wells Senior and his horse Jimmy Boss were in hundreds of horse shows. Kimberly and her father were part of the top 10 Washington state game riders in the years of the 1980s. Kimberly was a member of the Washington State Horsemen and the Ranch Riders. She had state records for the barrels and the poles. She was an excellent rider and loved her animals — cats, goats, dogs, and sheep. She was a 4-H member in Grays Harbor County going to the fair and showing her animals and her sewing.

She was a very caring person to all.

Kimberly was very active in the local, state, and national organization of the Delta Kapa Gamma, an international Society for Key Women in Education. Kimberly held many local and state offices over the 32 years she belonged to DKP. She also belonged to the First Baptist Church in Gallup, New Mexico where she was loved and respected.

Kimberly loved to travel by car, train, and plane. At the drop of the hat, she would be off to Gallup, New Mexico to see and visit with her friends. She traveled to many states. Her last trip in July was Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the U.S. DKG convention.

Kimberly was born in Aberdeen, Washington to Thomas H. Wells Sr. and Sandra J. (Adam) Wells. Her father Tom Wells Sr. passed in 2015, and her brother passed in March of 2025. Kimberly is survived by her mother Sandra Wells, cousins Bill and Carla Lane, Joan Kinney and Darrel Graham, Brenda Vokorro and many more relatives in Gray Harbor, plus many friends in Washington State and Gallup, New Mexico. Cyn Poblano was like a sister to Kimberly while she lived 32 years in Gallup.

Services for Kimberly will be on Oct. 17, 2025, at Humptulips Cemetery at 1 p.m. Celebration of life will be after the services at the Humptulips Grange Hall.

Please bring your favorite dish as it will be a potluck.

Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam.