Esteena "Teena" Kry Wells

Esteena Kry “Teena” Wells passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida.

Teena was born on May 7, 1940, in Chattahoochee, Florida, and grew up in Jasper, Florida. After graduating from Jasper High School, she returned to Chattahoochee to work as a dental assistant at Florida State Hospital. It was there that she met the love of her life, Clyde Brown Wells, who was teaching at the nearby Apalachee Correctional Facility. Clyde always joked that he was the inmate and Teena was the patient—a story they both laughed about for the rest of their lives.

They married in 1961 and soon moved to Gainesville, where Teena worked hard to put Clyde through law school at the University of Florida. Helping him achieve that dream remained one of her proudest accomplishments.

In 1963, they made their home in DeFuniak Springs. Clyde began practicing law, and when he ran for Circuit Judge in 1972, Teena was right by his side—organizing, encouraging, and welcoming friends and strangers alike into their home. She had a gift for hospitality, often serving up a home-cooked meal for the lawyers Clyde would bring around the table.

Teena poured her energy and heart into her community. She served on the Walton County Library Board, the First National Bank & Trust Board, and the Garden Club. But her most treasured work was with Resources for Human Development (RHD). The individuals she cared for there were like her own, and in recognition of her devotion, the RHD Volunteer Award was named in her honor.

Her commitment to service and education ran deep. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush, she served on the Federal Northern District Judicial Qualifying Committee and on the Northwest Florida State College Board of Trustees. She especially cherished her time at the college, believing that everyone deserved an education. Many never knew it, but she quietly paid tuition for those who couldn’t afford it themselves.

Teena was also a sharp businesswoman with a knack for real estate. She managed multiple properties in DeFuniak Springs and loved nothing more than riding around town to check on them and chat with tenants. She was known for her quick wit, her kindness, and for simply knowing everyone.

Teena is preceded in death by her husband, Judge Clyde B. Wells; her parents, Libby and Marteen Kry; her beloved aunt, Chleo Sanders; her brother, Jimmy Kry; and her sister, Barbara Ann Griffin.

She is survived by her son, Kelvin Clyde Wells (Amy) of DeFuniak Springs; her daughter, Kelly Wells Horton of Tallahassee; granddaughter, Reagan Elizabeth Wells of DeFuniak Springs; and grandson, Clyde Brown Wells II of DeFuniak Springs. She also leaves behind her dear friends Edie and Wayne Thompson, and Celeste, Brad, and Grant Barefield, as well as many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, and friends who loved her like family.

For the past ten years, Teena faced Alzheimer’s with remarkable grace and courage. Her family is deeply grateful to those who cared for her so lovingly over the years—Bob Seevers, Shannon Nolin, the staff at Westminster Oaks Memory Care, and Big Bend Hospice.

A time of visitation will be held at the First Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs Tuesday, September 2 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m.. Pallbearers are Wes Kry, Buck Kry, Hamp Yates, Ben Spence, Taylor Tison, Trey Nick, Gus Andrews, Bobby Beasley, Perry Bell, Wayne Thompson, Richard Thompson, Clifford Ingram, David Green, and Eddie Thomason.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Esteena K. Wells Memorial Scholarship at Northwest Florida State College. Online gifts can be made at give.nwfsc.edu or checks sent to NWFSC Foundation, 100 College Blvd, Niceville, FL 32578.