Mary W. Wright

Mary Louise (Ware) Wright was the fun, free-spirited auntie in the family.  She was born to the union of Lutie Alma and John William Ware in Iowa City, Iowa on August 17, 1927. She was the seventh of the siblings born of this union; John, Cora, Jack, Paul, William, George, Martha, and Lola, the youngest child, all preceded her in death.  Ruby Jean and Margaret are the last of the surviving siblings. 

Mary received her grade school education in Iowa City’s public schools, graduating from Toledo High school. With the help and encouragement from her oldest sister, Martha, she continued her education by attending the University of Iowa and ultimately the University of Maryland, receiving her bachelor’s degree.

Mary hailed from the Midwest (Iowa) and lived in the Midwest (Minnesota) for many years before moving East.  She worked at AT&T as a supervisor but found her passion in the medical field, working for Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC where she was employed for over thirty years as a Laboratory Technician.  While at WRAMC, she grew her career to become Lab Supervisor for the Department of Hematology, an important role that she took seriously and worked fervently up to and until her retirement.  She gained many friends and colleagues while at WRAMC.  One of her “besties,” Elaine, lovingly called her Mindy, as many of her friends and family did also.  Mary had a remarkable sharp wit and could get anyone to laugh and have a good time!  She was truly a great aunt, sister, friend and momma to her beloved pet Yorkshire Terrier, April, who predeceased her in life. 

Following her retirement from WRAMC, she kept going into the next phase of her life; education.  Even though she was not formally trained as an educator, she pursued the profession regardless.  Through the acquaintance of an esteemed educator who would become another life-long “bestie,” Dorothy Clowers, Mary was able to achieve a substitute teaching opportunity in Prince George’s County Public Schools.  She sought this opening as a way to assist, mentor and elevate her beloved great-niece, Dana Marie.   Mary loved her little Dana like a daughter and vowed to make sure Dana’s life was filled with great prospects and wonderful lasting memories.  She accomplished that.

One of Mary’s passions was travel, especially foreign travel, and she traveled all over the world! She had so many great stories of her travel experiences.  Her favorite places were Alaska, Austria and Egypt.  She believed in living life to the fullest, not sitting around wondering “what if” and getting out to enjoy all that the world had to offer.  Mary loved life and absolutely hated funerals.  Mary always had that mischievous twinkle in her eye, like she knew something that you didn’t, and laughed a lot because she always had a joke or funny story for you or about you.

Mary’s humor was well known among her family and co-workers. She was spiritual, a devout Catholic, attending church regularly and taking nieces and nephews with her in tow; namely in a top-down convertible, which also always served for a fun time too.

To quote one of her good friends, “Mary can forever be remembered as a good heart that has stopped beating, but a heart that has touched so many lives it can’t help but live on in those it loved.”  Mary leaves to mourn; her dear grand-niece, Dana Marie; niece, Susan; God-daughter, Courtney; grand-nephew, Randy; sisters, Margaret (John) and Ruby Jean (Sheldon); brother-in-law, Calvin; nieces, Cindy (Kevin), Tova (Bernard) and Carol Jean; nephews, David, Bruce (Betsy), Jeff (Karramah), Henry and Tor; good friends, the Thornton family, Elaine, Dorothy; and a multitude of family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and caregivers.

With love and an abundance of fabulous memories forever and ever!

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