Viola Marie Wright

Viola Marie Wright, 89, of Midland, ascended to her Heavenly Father Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.

She was born Feb. 14, 1919, in Bay City, to the late Clarence Weiler and Dora (Ayling) Vinson. She was a native of Midland and surrounding communities all her life. She worked at Kresge's and W.T. Grant retail stores in her early years. She received her GED diploma from Midland High School in 1969 by attending night classes. She became a nurses' aide, working in private homes, then at Provincial Nursing Home (Tendercare) where she retired in 1979.

She married Lawrence J. Wright on Dec. 1, 1965, in Tempe, Ariz. He died Dec. 29, 1977. Vi was a nurturer - she dearly loved her family and helped raise many stepchildren in addition to her own, and later, took care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed tending her plants and flower garden, and feeding all the birds, squirrels and chipmunks in the neighborhood. Her interest was in raising miniature poodles. In later years, she acquired a cat named K.C. "Kitty Cat" who was her loving companion for many years.

Vi loved people - doing things for them and with them; her friends were many. Her neighbors were always there for her, Jim and Terry Moody and Bette, Frank and Jimmy How. Lil Blanchard was her good friend til the end, Dennise Nagle, and Mariam Asher (her "pew" partner for years) were also close friends.

She will be sorely missed, and remembered as a patient, kind, gentle, tender-hearted person who always had time for anyone who needed her. Her love of God ran deep, and she passed this wonderful legacy on to her children and grandchildren. Vi was an active, lifetime member of the Edenville United Methodist Church (over 50 years), serving on various committees, including the administrative board, and was also a member of the Ruth Circle. Her church family meant a great deal to her.

Vi is survived by her sons, James (Sachiyo) Thurston of Littleton, Colo., Michael Wright of Phoenix, Ariz., Daniel (Marge) Whitney of Bay City, Calvin (Rita) Whitney of Minden City, and Roger (Phyllis) Whitney of Richland, Pa.; daughters, Bobbie (Jim) Zimmerman of Midland, Carolyn (Charlie) Pagel of Sandusky, and Janine (Loren) Cook of Wheeler; daughters-in-law, Barbara (Doug) Thurston of Sanford/Pt. Richey, Fla., Barbara (Ron) Thurston of Sanford, and Gladys (Jarvis) Wright of Zephyrsville, Fla.; brother, Clarence (Sara) Weiler of Escondido, Calif.; and grandchildren, Bonnie (Mike) Bauer, Jimmy Thurston, Shirley Hughes, Susan (Jeff) Ausman, Peggy Thurston, Merry Scheitler, Jerry (Brenda) Thurston, Krissy Salva (Kevin Geary), Craig (Jill) Thurston, Kelly Thurston, Kirk Thurston, Darryl Schymanski, Scott (Karen) Schymanski and Midge (Jeff) Bartow. She was especially close to great grandchildren Cody and Devin Bartow, who could always be found "hanging out' with "Grammie". She cherished all of her great and great-great grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four sons, Ronald Thurston, Douglas Thurston (who died Sept. 3, 2008), Jarvis Wright and James Wright; one daughter, Wanda (Dick) Columbus; a brother, Gerald (Virginia) Weiler; sisters, Madeline (Harry) McNett, Helen Schofield, Donna (Jay) Koontz, Melva Fales, Rosalia Evans and Lynn (Larry) Hendershot; and lifelong friend, Evelyn Hall.

Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, from the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler St., Midland. Pastor Patrick Poag of the Edenville United Methodist Church and Pastor Gerald Ferguson of Trinity Lutheran Church will officiate, with burial in Midland City Cemetery.

Vi's family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the MidMichigan Home Care (Hospice) of Midland or the Edenville United Methodist Church.

If you are unable to visit with family in person you may send your condolences through www.waresmithwoolever.com.