Atlas Thomas Wells' Obituary
“But Jesus said, ‘Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 19:14 KJV
Atlas Thomas Wells, age 2, entered the world on October 17th, 2021, at 23 weeks gestation. He and his parents Joshua and Taylor fought mightily through every surgery, medical procedure and health test to finally graduate from the NICU at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. They went home together after 254 days, despite the doubts of many. Atlas was tiny in body but fierce in name, which was derived from his paternal grandfather who always inquired of anyone going on a trip (“You got your atlas?”) and his maternal great grandfather, Thomas.
Atlas was a miraculous source of joy, inspiration and wonder to all who knew him, and even those who had only heard stories of him or seen pictures or videos of his gorgeous face. It was rare to catch Atlas without an absolutely face-splitting smile, and definitely impossible to interact with him without offering one of your own. He had a mighty spirit, a tremendous capacity for pure happiness, and could communicate eloquently without saying a single word. He loved Miss Rachel, listening to books read by loved ones, music, FaceTime, but most of all, he loved any and everyone that caught his eye, and if you were lucky, gifted you with a flash of his sparkling eyes and a peel of contagious laughter.
Atlas slipped into eternity on December 8th, 2023. He leaves to cherish him always: his loving parents Joshua and Taylor Wells, his Pawpaw and Momee James and Bobbie Wells, his Mimi Stefanie Traynham, his Papa Lance Traynham (Nana Melissa Sanford). He is also survived by a host of the most devoted aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends you could ever imagine. We will mourn the absence of his earthly presence, but we feel incredibly blessed and forever changed to have experienced him at all.
In celebration of Atlas’ remarkable life and gleeful disposition, we invite you to wear your most colorful clothing to his services. We also suggest purple for micropreemie awareness and blue and light blue for hydrocephalus awareness, a condition Atlas lived with for his entire life.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 17th, from 2 – 6 pm at Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. His funeral service will be held on Monday, the 18th, at 11:00 am, also in the funeral center. Burial will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst. To send an online condolence, please visit www.dovinreberjones.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Atlas?
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Share a story where Atlas' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Atlas you’ll never forget.
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