Janice Gay Wright

Janice Gay Wright (née West)

August 25, 1947 – February 11, 2026

Janice Gay Wright (née West) passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, on

February 11, 2026, following a short battle with cancer.

Janice was born on August 25, 1947, and grew up in Warsaw, Missouri-a place she dearly loved

and carried with her throughout her life. She treasured memories of the Ozarks and time spent on

the water with family and friends during her youth. She later moved to the Kansas City area

during her senior year of high school.

In Kansas City, Janice met her beloved husband, Ryland F. Wright, while they were both working

at Yellow Freight. Together they shared a loving marriage and would have celebrated their 52nd

wedding anniversary on February 16, 2026. In the late-1980s, they moved their family to

Colorado, where they happily remained. Janice had a deep appreciation for the mountains and

the beauty of the natural world, and she especially cherished memories of hiking with her family

at Mt. Falcon Park.

Janice was a proud and loving mother to her daughters: Stephanie C. Martinez (née Copp),

Candace G. Wamboldt (née Wright), married to David E. Wamboldt, and Mary B. Wright. She

was a cherished grandmother to Ashley L. Gregory (née Wamboldt), Courtney E. Clary (née

Wamboldt), Gabriel A. Martinez, Nathan R. Martinez, and Peter L. Martinez. She was especially

delighted to become a great-grandmother to Thomas J. Gregory, with another great-grandchild

on the way.

She is survived by her sister, Caroline O. Bowers (née West), and was preceded in death by her

sister, Barbara J. Davis (née West). Janice also loved many dogs throughout her life and held

especially fond memories of her beagles, bassets, wheaten terriers, and her grand-puppies, Tulip

and Gertie. She was deeply devoted to-and incredibly proud of-her entire family (including

her many nieces, nephews and in-laws). Her love was constant, unconditional, and enduring.

Janice devoted her life to caring for others. She was a homemaker and owned and operated a

home daycare business for more than 20 years, where she lovingly cared for countless children

and supported their families. She will be remembered for her kindness, her acceptance of

everyone, and her steadfast belief in living by the Golden Rule. Her warmth, generosity, and

gentle spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Janice was an avid quilter and crocheter, leaving behind many handmade blankets and throws

that her family will forever treasure. She also loved reading, scrapbooking, and genealogy,

spending countless hours researching her family's history and creating ancestry books for her

loved ones.

A memorial service will be announced at a later time.