Alice Joy Wright

Alice Wright, 84, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, May 30th in Abilene, after a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Alice was born in Vernon, Texas to Olin Cecil Everett and Georgia (Joy) Virginia Cadle Everett on June 29th, 1933.  As a child, she moved with her family to Abilene and attended Abilene public schools, graduating from Abilene High School in 1951. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in Food and Restaurant Management.

She married William P.  (Bill) Wright, whom she met in first grade at Alta Vista Elementary School. When they finished their college educations, the couple moved back to Abilene, where Bill joined his father in the wholesale gasoline business.

Alice was a longtime member of the Junior League of Abilene, the 20th Century Study Club, and the Abilene Woman’s Club, and she also served on several community boards including the Abilene Public Library board. She was well known in the Abilene community as a wonderful hostess who delighted her guests at dinner parties. Jalapeno Cheese Grits was one of her specialties, and her recipe was shared with dozens of friends in Abilene. Alice was active in Dr. Ron Smith’s Sunday school class at Abilene’s First Baptist Church, where she and Bill were members for over 60 years.

Alice was known as a skilled bridge player and was a member of several bridge groups throughout her life. She and Bill actually first bonded playing bridge on weekends in Austin on the sunny shores of Barton Springs. Sunbathing at Barton Springs was actually about as close to nature as Alice said she enjoyed.  However, she was game enough to hike and canoe the canyons of the Big Bend with her husband until she was close to 60, finally announcing that she had spent her last night in a bedroll.

A skilled photographer, two of Alice’s major delights were her exhibitions of her work, especially, Women of the World and Flowers. She and Bill enjoyed trips to some of Earth’s most remote places. Her photographs of Bhutan have been displayed in many museums. On a trip to Oman, she was honored with an exhibition of her work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Muscat, the capital. It opened with a tour led by the American Ambassador to Oman and concluded with a party in his home afterward.  Later, when three Omani photographers visited Abilene, she treated them to one of her famous dinners, just as they had treated her when she had visited Oman.

Preceding Alice in death were her son, David; a newborn daughter; her mother, Joy Everett; and her father, Olin Everett. She is survived by her husband, William P. (Bill) Wright, Jr.; her daughter, Alison Wright Peeler and husband Bruce; her son, Everett Mitchell Wright and wife Maria; and her sister, Marjorie Motheral and husband Joe. Also surviving her are six grandchildren, Chase Peeler, Madison Peeler, Zane Peeler, David Wright, Anika Wright Tripp, and William Wright, as well as her much loved sisters and brothers-in-law, Gayle and Robert Gray of Abilene and Linda and Grover Abel of Houston, and their children.

Alice’s family wishes to commend the diligent and loving care that she received from Windcrest Healthcare Center and that of Visiting Angels who attended her during her illness. They also extend their gratitude to Dr. Toby Williams, Dr. Sandip Mather, and to Hendrick Hospice. The family also thanks the friends who visited her while her illness progressed and were faithful to the end. A special thanks to those dear folks who worked behind the scenes, Beverly Guthrie, Suzie Hood, Marianne Wood and Marie Hutton.

A Visitation/Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 2nd from 3:00-5:00 PM at the First Baptist Church Chapel, North 2nd and Orange Street in Abilene, Texas. At 4:00 PM during the celebration, Alice’s nephew, Dr. Stephen Cook and other members of the family will share memories on Alice’s life.  Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.

In lieu of flowers, Alice’s photos will be displayed at the Visitation/Celebration. Those wishing to send a memorial gift may donate to the Wright Family Foundation at the Community Foundation of Abilene or to a charity of their choice.  Alice Wright’s cremains will be placed in Elmwood Memorial Park during a private family service.