BRANDON TOWNSHIP – Edith Wright was raised in an era when volunteers sustained the life of our nation, an epoch when community commitment and involvement was expected, but not taken for granted.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, she died at age 78, and Brandon Township lost a prominent cornerstone.
Mrs. Wright was a local historian for more than 30 years. She was deeply involved in the Ortonville United Methodist Church, was a charter member of the Ortonville Historical Society, a member of the Brandon Township Library Board and past president of the Ortonville Women’s Club and the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 582.
“I think she volunteered for everything because during World War II everybody was required to help each other out,” said historical society member Mary Alice Seelbinder.
“Being raised in times like that gave us a sense of value,” Seelbinder said. “When something needed to be done you just pitched in and did it.”
Mrs. Wright grew up during the Great Depression. Her family lost their farm and, for much of her teen years, they lived in a remote, one-room school house.
According to her daughter, Carol Ann Hess, she traveled a great distance to attend high school in Rochester and worked in the library in order to graduate from the far-away school.
In her early 20s, she met and married the love of her life, husband Bill Wright, and became his biggest supporter through hog farming, college, teaching, and politics for the next 56 years.
“When Mom and Dad first bought the 40-acre parcel on Auten Road, they moved into a garage-like structure with no running water,” said Hess. “Dad said she never complained.
“She was such a strong lady, she could do anything, make anything, and even deliver baby pigs,” said Hess.
The Wrights lovingly raised their daughters, Patty, Margorie, Kathryn and Carol Ann on the Ortonville farm, until hog prices sank in the late 60s.
In January 1969 Hess was headed off to college, so Bill Wright decided to sell the family farm and move his family to Mt. Pleasant, joining his daughter’s enrollment at Central Michigan University.
“Even though Mom didn’t want to move from Ortonville, she made a home for us in Mt. Pleasant anyway,” said Hess. “Even when she didn’t want us to do something, Mom was our biggest cheerleader. She never said don’t do that or why are you doing that, she was always supportive.”
Family was paramount to Mrs. Wright, and according to Hess, the family found envelopes she kept for each grandchild, full of pictures, drawings and notes they had written to their grandmother. The Wrights have four grandsons and a granddaughter. Mrs. Wright was preceded in death by her daughter Kathryn in 1988.
During their stay in Mt. Pleasant, she became involved in the local church, working at the church preschool.
“She really liked that,” said Hess. “Even though she worked at the preschool while Dad and I were in school, she was always home for us girls.”
“At mealtime Mom was always the last one to finish eating because she would take the time to talk with us.
“And dessert,” smiled Hess. “There was always dessert, always homemade cookies in the jar.
“I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but she made all our dresses for us four girls. When she taught me to sew she made me do it on my own so I would really learn how to sew.”
When Carol Ann and Bill graduated from college, the family moved back home to Brandon Township.
In the years following, Bill Wright taught school locally, was elected township supervisor for 22 years, and Edith Wright plunged back into supporting the community by volunteering for several local organizations.
“She was a charter member of the historical society when I joined,” said Mary Alice Seelbinder. “When I was chairman of the board, she and Bill supported my every move, which was a very good feeling.
“Edith’s sense of giving was fulfilling to her, and a blessing to others,” Seelbinder said.
“Edith Wright was a wonderful woman,” said current township Supervisor Ron Lapp. “She and Bill were cornerstones of this community. She was so dedicated because they come from the greatest generation that sustained this country,” he said.
“She was a classy lady and will be missed.”