Mary Ellen Wright

Mary Ellen Wright died unexpectedly but peacefully on Sunday, October 12, 2025, in her favorite chair at the home where she and her late husband Harold raised their family.

Born on April 17, 1944, to Donna Devers in Carson City, MI, Mary was raised by Fred and Tillie Pritz (and later her stepfather, Glenn Gamble) in Kalamazoo. She married Harold in 1963, and the couple settled in Plainwell, where Mary happily raised their four children while Harold worked.

More than anything, Mary loved her family, and she loved adding to her family. With her small stature, big heart, and bright shoes, she’d often “adopt” her kids’ and grandkids’ friends into her circle, come across “long-lost cousins” at stores and random events, and feed whatever animals, domestic or wild, that would stray into her backyard. She considered all of these her family, and if they had an address to send a Christmas or birthday card to, by God she was going to send it, sometimes with the wrong date or address or even card, but always with her entire love and a share of her limited resources.

At Mary’s request, the majority of this obituary is to be devoted to that family, both living and dead, biological and chosen, whom she surrounded herself with during her 81 years. In the months leading up to her passing, Mary sought at every opportunity to tell those she loved how much she loved them, and wanted everyone to know how good her life was because they were in it. This family includes, but certainly is not limited to, her:

Husband, Harold Wright; Children, Tammy Lober (Doug Verpooten), Tari Wright (Kevin Christensen), Tom (Barb) Wright, and Traci (Mike) Bosch;

Grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica) Shook, Mark (Kelli) Shook, Brandon Lober, Michael (Amanda) Christensen, Renee (Nick) Snape, Daton Wright (Alyssa Wesler), Macayla Wright (Dusty Gibson), Dustin (Charity) McNees, Rachael (Dallas) Fuller, and Daniel “Squeek” Bosch;

Great-grandchildren, Kobe, Ava, Ella, Jayrd, and Sawyer Shook, Maylee Shook, Audrey (Michael) Ritter, Leah (Jonah) Dean, Jackson Meyer, Jessa, Quinn, and Nolan Christensen, Tanner Snape, and Caige, Cohen, Praxus, and Rei McNees;

Special relatives, Stan and June Thomas, Doug Thomas, Peggy Hughes (Thomas Hughes), Christen Baxter, Jessica Baxter, Brittany (Cody) Watkins, Tom and Jean Hurlbut, Jim and Fran Hurlbut, Laurie and Bob Hamilton, Cousin Deb, Linda Schanz, Mathew Hamilton, Beth and Craig Hardford, Austin Hardford, Gordie and Jane Dangremond, Dan (Kim) Dangremond, Scott (Connie) Dangremond), Kara Dangremond, Alli Dangremond, and Kyle (Nikki) Harnden;

Special friends, Gloria and Ernie Piechocki, Jimmy Piechocki, Sharon Metheny, Suki Jorgensen, Sandy Brink, Karen Romanak, Jeff Lyons, Ann Kling, Vic Beaune, and numerous Peace Lutheran friends.

The hundreds of dogs, cats, deer, birds, goats, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, chipmunks, farm animals, and other wildlife Mary and Harold met and took care of throughout their 41-year marriage; and anyone else who feels their name should be on this list. If you think you were a part of Mary’s family in any capacity, she would agree.

Services will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church in Otsego, MI, with Visitation from 10-11 a.m., Service at 11, followed by a light lunch.

Anyone wishing to donate in Mary's memory can donate to the Wishbone Pet Rescue.