Obituary

Mary Chenoweth Wright, 98, known for her love and devotion to family and faith, died Monday, Dec. 21, in Lubbock, Texas. The mother of seven, Mrs. Wright was a longtime leader in PTA and United Methodist women's groups in the Texas Panhandle. Her PTA involvement spanned 40 years, beginning in the 1930s and '40s in Borger and continuing in the '50s, '60s and '70s in Plainview. Mary Olive Chenoweth was born May 9, 1911, in Albany, Mo. She was the fifth of six children born to Charles E. and Amy Weed Chenoweth. In 1918 her family moved to Panhandle where she attended school. On June 4, 1929, she married Thomas Lawrence Wright, and they settled in Borger where Mr. Wright worked for the Borger Herald. He later served as county clerk for Hutchinson County. Five of their children were born in Borger. Mrs. Wright was active in the First United Methodist Church of Borger, where she was organist for many years. In 1950 they moved to Plainview where Mr. Wright farmed. He died in 1978. In Plainview, Mrs. Wright was active in the Travel Study Club and the Musical Arts Society. She was a founding member of the Plainview chapter of the American Guild of Organists and served as a Girl Scout leader. She was active in the First United Methodist Church of Plainview, serving as head of its children's department at the time the church constructed its current facility on West Seventh Street in 1958. She was president of the church's United Methodist Women during its 50th anniversary year. She sang in the choir, played handbells and belonged to the Business and Professional Women's Sunday School Class and the Gladys Carter Circle. In 2002 Mrs. Wright moved to Lubbock where she lived with her daughter, Martha Ramsey. Mrs. Wright was preceded in death by her husband, T.L. Wright; a son, Charles Chenoweth Wright; a son-in-law, Lyle Anthony Wolfskill; and a great-grandson, Charles Knox Alford. She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Karen Wright of El Paso and Milton and Juanita Wright of Lubbock; four daughters, Marylin Wolfskill of Huntsville, Annette and John Long of Odessa, Martha and Lester Ramsey of Lubbock and Linda and Phil Berrey of Tulsa, Okla.; one daughter-in-law, Quadene Wright of Amarillo; 22 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Visitation with the family will precede the service beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, 6025 82nd Street, Lubbock. Services will be held at 1 p.m. in the Lake Ridge Chapel followed by graveside services at 3 p.m. in Plainview Cemetery and Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the T.L. and Mary Wright Scholarship Fund, McMurry University, P.O. Box 938, Abilene, TX 79697-0938; to the Mary Chenoweth Wright Music Scholarship Fund, Chautauqua Institution, P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, NY, 14722; or to a charity of choice. To send your condolences to the family and view Mary's life tribute of photographs, visit www.memorialdesigners.net.