Arie VanWright

Era (Arie) Toran was born on March 8, 1925, in the Tri-City Beach area of Chambers County of Baytown, Texas to the late Irvin and Lena Owens Toran.  She was the youngest of the four children born into that union.  

While attending her early years of elementary school, a schoolteacher befriended the family and she was really fond of Era.  Arie asked the family if they would consider changing Era's name to Arie.  With the love they had between them, they agreed to the name change.

Arie went through her early school years with her proud name.  She later attended a year at Huston-Tillotson University, a private historically black university in Austin, Texas.

Arie had a brief union in which Evelyn (deceased) and Ralph was born.  She worked different jobs throughout the years to support her young children and get help from her loving family.  Arie later met Wilson VanWright (decease) and married Octber 17, 1957.  They had one child, Stephen Irvin VanWright.  She has nine grandchildren (two deceased), eight great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Arie was employed by HISD for several years in administration and later became a domestic worker and a loving wife.  She enjoyed sewing, upholstery and gardening.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two children, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, one niece, one great nephew and host of relatives and friends.

Arie went home to be the Lord on February23, 2023 at the age of 97.