Shirley Wright

Shirley (Egleston) Wright, age 83, of St. Johns, MI died Saturday, April 19, 2014. Born July 28, 1930 to Lloyd B. and Lenore C. Egleston, Shirley was a graduate of J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing in the class of June 1948. Her love of music brought her to join the Choir and she sang second lead in two operettas. She also sang in the Sextet which took them to perform in nursing homes and the like.

Through her Mother's line, she came from James Coon line who was with the First Michigan Sharpshooters, Company E, Grand Army of the Republic. Upon return to Michigan, after being wounded and released in Washington DC, he was one of the 12 soldiers alive when the monument was placed on the grounds of the Capital honoring their sacrifices. It stands there today. Because of the interest in genealogy, she also completed the Egleston genealogy which had previously been completed and made into a bound book dated 1918. This section took 5 years to complete from 1965 to 1970.

On July 9, 1977, Shirley married Gerald N. Wright and became instant step-mother to his six children. Daniel (Kathy) Wright of Harrisburg, SD; Steven W. Wright (Deceased); Rosann Frazier of Lansing, MI; Joseph (Dee) Wright of Albuquerque, NM; Charles E. Wright of Grand Ledge, MI; and Phillip H. (Shirley Spaulding) Wright of Lansing, MI.

While working for the Department of Natural Resources, Forest Management Division, one of her jobs was answering the Smokey Bear letters that school children sent to him via the DNR. She was instrumental in designing and making Smokey Bear footprint which is still in use today. Shirley was a member of Christ United Church of DeWitt, MI.

Memorial Services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, MI 48879 with Pastor Terry Williamson officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lansing. The family will receive friends from 10-11 AM Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to the charity of donor's choice in Shirley's name.