Mary "Betty" Wright

Mary “Betty” Wright, 101, of Flagler Beach, FL passed away on April 30, 2022 at the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House. She was born on March 23, 1921 in Toledo, Ohio to the late William and Mary Upton. In 1948 she married Edward Wright who predeceased her in 1988. Betty was a successful owner/operator of Ranch-Aire Beauty Shop in Bridgewater, New York for about 18 years. While attempting to ride a skateboard, an accident derailed her beauty shop career. She returned to school earning an Associates Degree at Mohawk Valley Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary & Secondary English Education from Utica College of Syracuse University. Betty taught elementary school for the next 19 years at the Bridgewater CSD then later at Mount Markham CSD. In 1971 Betty and Ed purchased a trailer in a park on Kring Point, overlooking the St. Lawrence River in northern New York. Betty and Ed enjoyed making special friends on the River and spending summers there. In the fall of 1988 she accompanied her sister, Lillian to Florida where she fell in love with the sunshine state and it ultimately became her new home. Although Florida was home, Betty still spent summers on the River into her late 80s. Making the drive every spring and fall. The River was a great place to be with family, including all of her sisters, as well as life long friends. You could hear the tossing of dice and her voice yelling “GREEN” as she would be playing Kismet until the wee hours most nights. In addition to teaching, Betty was an accomplished artist, carving wood animals (mostly birds), wood burning, painting in water color, acrylics and oil and creating/restoring wooden furniture. She sewed, crocheted and knitted as well. Her memberships included being a lifetime member of the Upton VFW Post #8259 which was named for her brother who lost his life serving his country during WWII, the Palm Coast Wood Carvers, a volunteer with Whispering Meadows Ranch and she enjoyed spending Monday nights at the community dinner at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church sitting at “The Love Table”. Betty will always be remembered for her eclectic personality and her love of life. Survivors include her daughters, Sharon (Richard) Lee, Darla (Joe) Schebal; grandchildren, Christine Swalgin and her partner, James Zombek, Tracey Trudell, Jacki (Tom) Hastings; several great-grandchildren; nieces, Sandra Little, Ginny Barrett, Kathy Winner and many more wonderful family and friends in the U. S. and Canada. Betty was predeceased by her brother, Willard Upton, sisters Lillian Munyon, Ethel Barrett and Margaret Humphrey. A Celebration of Life will be held at Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home, 511 Old King Rd South, Flagler Beach, FL on May 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.com. or Whispering Meadows Ranch, www.whisperingmeadowsranch.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.craigflaglerpalms.com for the Wright family.