Shirley Catherine Wright 1927-2011

WRIGHT, SCHIMMER, KENNALEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2013 at 13:20:37

Sioux City Journal
9 October 2011

DANBURY, Iowa -- Shirley Wright, 84, of Danbury died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury, with the Rev. Terry Roder officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Danbury. Visitation with the family present will begin at 4 p.m. today, with a rosary at 4 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home in Ida Grove, Iowa. Online condolences may be posted at www.christensenhuffman.com.

Shirley Catherine Wright was born Jan. 2, 1927, in Danbury, the third of five children born to Thomas Edward and Anne Lena (Schimmer) Kennaley. She graduated in 1945 from Danbury High School. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, earning her teaching certificate. She taught in country schools and later at Auburn, Lanesboro and Schleswig, Iowa.

Shirley married Merle Leland Wright of Sac City, Iowa, on Aug. 14, 1951, in the priest's house of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Danbury. She and Merle were the proud parents of nine children, six girls and three boys.

Shirley was active in St. Mary's Catholic Church, serving as a circle leader, substitute teacher, member of Rosary Society and cook at Danbury Catholic Grade School with Marilyn Boyle and later with her daughter, Diane Varner.

Shirley and Shad loved to bowl, and both were members of bowling leagues for several years. She also enjoyed cards and square dancing and she and her husband were members of both clubs. After retiring as school cook, Shirley worked for the town of Danbury processing the town water bills and as the town librarian for 25 years, seceding her position to her daughter-in-law, JoLynn Wright. One of her favorite memories was the trip she and her two sisters took to Ireland. They traveled with college students and were referred to as the "Three Sisters." Shirley thoroughly enjoyed her 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Jennie McCartney of Danbury, Judy (Tim) McAndrew of Omaha, Neb., Guy (Traci) Wright of Danbury, Diane (Dan) Varner of Sioux City, Beth (David) Boren of Austin, Texas, Ned (JoLynn) Wright of Danbury, Marge (Alan) Ogden of Salisbury, Mo., Karen Arndt (fiancé Rick Heinemann) of Sioux City and Adam (Beth) Wright of Omaha; her 21 grandchildren, Rob, Christina, Marsha, Rebecca, Timothy Jr., Chris, Paige, Nate, Nick, Noel, Doug, Jan, Eric, Brianna, Ethan, Elizabeth, Andy, Courtney, Brittaney, Tommy and Alex; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Yvonne (Freddie) Grell of Danbury and Laura Jones of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Kennaley of Moorhead, Calif., and Vera (Mardis) Miller of Carlton, Minn.; several nieces and nephews; a special cousin, Larry "Red" Kennaley of Texas; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Merle "Shad;" her parents; a son-in-law, Johnny Arndt; two brothers, Pat Kennaley and Bob Kennaley; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Helen and Gale Henson, Peggy Kennaley and Ron Jones; and four nephews, Jerry Grell, Donnie Henson, Jeff Henson and Glen Miller.