Marie Ellen Wright

Marie Ellen Gleason was born in Franklin, Nebraska, to parents Edward S. and Julia A. (Cook) Gleason on December 21st, 1918. She had two siblings: a brother, Roland; and a sister, Helen. She was raised in Franklin and graduated from Franklin High School at the age of 16. Following her graduation, she taught school in a one room schoolhouse. In 1937, her parents literally sold the farm, fled the dust bowl, and moved to Albany Oregon. Marie and her sister Helen studied cosmetology in Salem, Oregon. Their teacher was very gracious to them, selling them used equipment, and helping them to open their own beauty shop in Albany, aptly named “Helen and Marie Beauty Shop”.

Marie met Gerrit Lee Wright (“Lee”) at a church ice cream social at Jefferson Christian Church. Lee was attending Oregon State College at the time, enrolled in ROTC and studying Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Lee worked for Westinghouse on the East Coast and in Utah. He was called to active duty in the Army to serve in WWII and was first stationed in North Carolina. The two endured a long distance relationship. Lee took leave, drove across the country, (before interstate freeways) and married his “Honey Bunny-Boo” on August 6, 1943 in Albany, OR. Marie returned with Lee to North Carolina. As Lee went on to serve in both the Pacific and Asiatic campaigns in WWII, Marie returned to Albany to work with Helen in the beauty shop. After three years of separation, being uncertain if they would ever see each other again, they were reunited at the end of the war and moved to Portland, Oregon. They purchased their first small home on Harney Drive and began a family. Marie, while pregnant with Gerry, helped dig a basement under house. In 1953, the young family moved to Milwaukie, Oregon which would be their home for the rest of their lives.

Lee and Marie were always active in the church. Marie participated in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and partnered with Lee in leading the high school group. And for as long as their children can remember, they sang in the church choir.

They had three children, sons Gerrit Lee born in 1948 (sharing Marie’s birthday), Dennis in 1953; and daughter Julie in 1955.

Marie was a wonderful wife to Lee. She was an excellent homemaker, gifted seamstress (a gift she shared with her daughter Julie), and an avid gardener. She was a loving and devoted mother who always encouraged and supported her children in their school, and after-school pursuits. She was giving, comforting, and gracious to those less fortunate, always seeking a way to meet a need. She was deeply loved and will be truly missed, but none would wish her anywhere else than where she is beside her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her sons Gerrit Wright of Modesto, California, Dennis Wright of Oregon City, Oregon; daughter Julie Wright of Milwaukie, Oregon; brother Roland Gleason of Forest Grove; ten grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Marie's life will take place in Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, December 20th, 2012, at 2pm. Please pay a visit to the guestbook portion of this site and share a memory with Marie's family.

Remembrances may be made to Breast Cancer Research and to William Jessup University of Sacramento, California.