Maridelle Wright

Maridelle Wright (neé Brewer) passed away surrounded by loved ones on November 13, 2025, in Santa Rosa, California. She was 94 years old.

Born on April 3, 1931, in Cabot, Arkansas, to Carl Brewer and Emma Johnson, Maridelle grew up on a small family farm during the Depression, but she was anything but a traditional Southern girl. She spent her childhood playing basketball with her brothers, riding horses, and wearing jeans when most girls wore dresses. She later attended business college and worked briefly as an office assistant before realizing that life in hose and a skirt wasn't for her.

In 1948, she married the love of her life, Edward Jarold Wright. A few years later, the two of them began their adventure out west to the Antelope Valley, where they raised their family. After the birth of their son, Jarold Jr., Maridelle opened a home daycare and later co-operated Wright's Day Camp with her husband. Over more than three decades, Maridelle gave the children in her care a safe, joyful, and loving place to play and grow, and made a lasting impact on countless families with her love and wisdom.

A lifelong Democrat, Maridelle cared deeply about fairness and equal treatment for all people; she taught her family, and everyone close to her, how to love each other fiercely and unconditionally, how to take care of those around them, and how to stand up for what they believed in. She loved having a house full of people, hosting dinners and gatherings, and caring for her dogs and Arabian horses. In the 1980s, she and her husband fulfilled their dream of owning a restaurant as their "retirement project," where she greeted diners and served her homemade cobblers, banana and bread pudding, and frozen custard.

In 2019, Maridelle moved to Northern California with Jarold and Betty to be closer to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She took great joy in family dinners, conversation, and time spent watching the younger generations play, laugh, and grow.

Maridelle is survived by her son, Jarold Jr., and daughter-in-law, Betty Wright; her niece, Brenda Lachman; her granddaughters, Mandy Harris (Eli), Christie Watkins (Sean), and Connie Booth (Hunter Luisi); her great-granddaughters, Fiona Harris, Emma Watkins, and Lily Watkins; her sister-in-law, Peggy; her great-nephews, Bob Lachman and David Hubbard; and many other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jarold Sr.; her brothers, Jack, Bill, and Bob Brewer; and her sisters, Martha Brewer and Helen Hubbard.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers who supported Maridelle with their compassion and love in her final years.

A private memorial service was held in Santa Rosa on November 23 to celebrate Maridelle's life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the ACLU to honor her memory.