Gloria Marie Wright

GLORIA WRIGHT Gloria Marie Leonard wright, 88, passed away in Visalia on Saturday, December 6, 2014, after a five month battle with lung cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Addison Wright and son, John Leonard Wright, as well as her parents and a brother and sister. She is survived by her daughter Laurel Blankenship Flores (husband Bill); her son Paul Wright (wife Tammy); and her son Mark Wright. Her beloved grandchildren are Jaclyn Smith and husband, Ryan; Valarie Wright, Adam Wright and great-grandson, Nathan Wright. She is also survived by her sister, Alvina Barton (Jack) and Lucille Kavanaugh; sister-in-law Norene Wright Chavez as well as Debbie Perez and Ed Blankenship, a number of nieces and nephews and her many friends. She was born November 16, 1926, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Leo and Lucy Leonard. She was educated there and graduated from Saginaw High School. She went to work for the Boy Scouts of America organization and married her husband in 1948. They established their residence in Visalia in 1955 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before his death in 2009. She worked many years for Self-Help Enterprises helping families build houses and the organization remained an important part of her life. She was a strong Christian and Catholic, active in St. Mary's Catholic Church and a bible study leader for over 20 years. She worked with a trainer three times a week at Empower Fitness and enjoyed the distinction of being their "oldest member". She took every opportunity to travel and was able to make a pilgrimage to Rome at the age of 80. She enjoyed a wonderful group of "Bunco friends" for 30 years. Artistic and talented, she loved to paint, arrange flowers and surround herself with things of natural beauty. A voracious reader and nightly fan of "Jeopardy" kept her mind active. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kaweah Delta Hospice at 900 W. Oak Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 or Self-Help Enterprises 8445 W. Elowin Ct. Visalia, CA 93291. Recitation of the rosary will take place Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 6 p.m. at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia. Mass will be celebrated Friday, January 9, 2015 at l0:30 A.M.at St. Mary's Catholic Church and burial will follow in the Visalia Cemetery.

Gloria Marie Wright

November 16, 1926 - December 6, 2014