Services for Mary E. Wright, an 18-year resident of Gardnerville, will be 11 a.m. Monday at the St. Gall Catholic Church, 1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville.
Mary Wright died June 25, 2008 at the Carson Valley Residential Care facility following a brief illness. She was born Aug. 12, 1917 in Pasadena, Calif. to William and Elisabeth Howe. She graduated from Canoga Park High School in 1938 and the Stevenson Beauty College in Hollywood in 1938.
After owning and operating her first beauty shop in Reseda, Calif., she joined the United States Women's Army Corp. in 1944 and proudly served her country for two years until being honorably discharged at the end of 1945.
Mary moved to Lake Tahoe in 1956 where she worked at Harvey's Wagon Wheel as a 21 Dealer for 7 years. She was a hit with the gamblers there at the time because she said she was unlucky for the house.
Mary was President of the Alter Society for two years at Our Lady of Tahoe Catholic Church and was very active in the Catholic Church throughout her life.
In 1963 she opened a beauty shop in the original Round Hill Shopping Center, which she operated until her retirement.
In 1965 she married William J. Wright, Principal of George Whittell High School, where she was very active in the booster's club, attending many sporting events all over the state of Nevada in support of the Warriors.
While continuing to run a successful business, Mary taught herself to become an excellent cook, gardener, hostess and homemaker.
After she retired with her husband they enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing and golf with their many friends and finally purchased a permanent winter vacation site in Yuma, Ariz. They enjoyed their time there with friends from Tahoe and made many more friends from all over the United States and Canada.
In 1990, they moved to Minden where she was a regular at the Carson Valley Swim Center, as swimming was a lifelong joy for Mary. Many of the friends she made there, as well as her Tahoe friends, played such a vital role in assisting her with transportation for medical visits, shopping, movies and lunches, which she enjoyed so much after she could no longer drive herself.
Mary and her family thank you all so much for the wonderful giving spirit that all of you showed her.
Mary was preceded in death by her brother Jack Howe; sisters Lea Wooton and Marge Wiley and stepdaughter Jane Richardson.
She is survived by her step-children Betty Lee Wright and William Wright, Jr. of Hagerstown, Md. and David E. Wright of Zephyr Cove; grandchildren Casey Wright of Reno, Lynn Boyer Cruise of Ridley Park, Pa., Dana Boyer Neast of Harrisburg, Pa., Matthew R. Wright and Amy E. Wright of Hagerstown, Md.; nephews Roger and Steve Wooton of Las Vegas, William Howe of Camino, Calif., Mike Wiley of Atlanta, Ga.; niece Mary Lea Ince of Reno; sister-in-law Harriett Wise of Gardnerville; daughter-in-law Crisy J. Wright of Zephyr Cove; and four great-grandchildren.
FitzHenry's Funeral Home in Gardnerville is in charge of arrangements.