Mary Straight

Mary Jane Wright Straight's life was a celebration of family, art, education, and conversation. On November 20, 2012 she passed away surrounded by her children and their spouses. Mary was born to Clark and Elizabeth Wright in Price, Utah, on December 22, 1930. The third of four children, Mary grew up in Morgan, Utah, and graduated from Morgan High. After a time working for the California Dairy Council and Port of San Diego, she returned and completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Utah.

After graduation, Mary taught art at Granite High School in Northern Utah. She married Richard Straight on August 16, 1963, and moved to the Monument Park area of Salt Lake City to raise a family. There she devoted her remarkable talents and energy to her family, community, and church.

Mary's love and creative gifts were felt by all those around her. She continued her work as an educator, taking an active role in her children's schools and substitute teaching in the Salt Lake School District. She volunteered for decades as a Judge of Election. She served faithfully in numerous callings in the LDS church, and held a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.

In the tradition of her father, Clark Wright, Mary was a passionate artist and teacher. As a painter, Mary worked with a variety of media to capture the people and places that she loved best. Many of her happiest memories and most inspired works were connected to the landscapes of Utah and the California coast. She was an active member of the Utah Watercolor Society and the Intermountain Society of Artists.

Mary is survived by her sister, Elizabeth (Jim) Shill, her brother, G. Paul Wright, her beloved nieces and nephews, her sister-in-law Kathryn (Dan) Stevenson, her four sons, Aaron (Alison), Sam (Deirdre), Paul (Itza), and Nate (Kerry), her five grandchildrena�"Elijah, Aidan, Rachel, Lucas, and Lilya�"and her cat, Fritzie.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 24th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Monument Park Stake Center located at 1320 S. Wasatch Dr. in Salt Lake City. Friends may call at the Stake Center beginning at 9:00 a.m. Mary will be interred at the North Morgan Cemetery in Morgan, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Utah Watercolor Society or the Democratic National Committee.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com