She was born to the late Clarence Lewis Salyers and Ruth Lee Angel Salyers September 17,1934 in Waco , Texas. She was raised in Clifto , Texas until the 8th grade. She was fortunate to have a best friend Johnye which she considered her sister. They both were only children and were inseparable. After the loss of her father and step father, Dease, she and her mother moved to her mom’s hometown of Plano, Texas . Mahala found a new set of girlfriends and she caught James Wrights’s eye. They were sweethearts in school and both graduated from Plano High School in 1951. She and James Ray Wright married October 14, 1951 at the First United Methodist Church in Plano.
Mahala graduated with a secretarial degree from Rutherford Metropolitian Business College in Dallas,Texas. She and James loss their first son James Michael during childbirth but did have another son Donald Ray born in 1955 while James was serving in the United States Army in Tacoma, Washington. Mahala and Donnie moved to live with James on the Army base soon after Donnie’s birth. Upon leaving the Army, they moved back home and lived in Plano. Andrea Lynn was born to the family in 1958. They lived in Plano until they moved to Lucas, Texas to raise horses. There are many joyful memories of the family participating in play days with their horses as members of the McKinney Pinto Riding Club. Soon both Mahala and James were part of the organization of the American Paint Horse Association and started raising and showing Paint horses. When the family no longer showed horses they still raised Paints in Caddo, Oklahoma for a short while. Living in Lucas was a little like Little House on the Prairie. Mahala was involved in the Lovejoy school PTA, a very small country school between Lucas and Fairview. After Moving to McKinney, Mahala attended H and R Block training to become an Enrolled agent. She helped local CPA’s and later worked for herself preparing tax returns for her clients.
Mahala is survived by two children: Donald Ray Wright of Caddo,Oklahoma, Andrea Lynn Stephens and husband Rusty of Paradise , Texas. She is also survived by four grandchildren: DaLaine Stephens Donaldson and husband Jason of Paradise , Texas, Jeralyn Stephens Novak and husband Ryan of Pleasanton , Texas, Josiah Wright of Durant , Oklahoma, and Nathan Wright of Bend, Oregon . Sister in law Arlene Wright of Waxahachie, the newest addition to the family, Clara Novak, Nonie’s great granddaughter and our friend for the past year and a half, Marcella Meeks of Boyd,Texas.
Mahala was predeceased by her parents, step father, infant son James, loving husband “Pop” in 2018 and her childhood friend /sister Johnye Lou Schumacher Kleine in 2017.
Mahala was of the Methodist faith and loved singing in the First United Methodist Church choir.
Her other hobbies were horseback riding, sewing, reading, gardening and her dogs. She leaves behind her beloved Max. She and Pop loved helping DaLaine and Jeralyn show horses and were their biggest fans. Nonie was a great seamstress and made special costumes and dresses for her granddaughters.
Nonie was immensely proud of her family and leaves behind beautiful memories.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday September 15, 2019 2:00 pm at Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano, Texas. The burial will take place immediately after services at Plano Mutual Cemetery.
The family suggests that donations be made in the memory of Mahala to The American Diabetes Association, in lieu of sending flowers.
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