Martha Elizabeth Wright

Friends are welcome to join the family for a service to celebrate the life of Martha Wright of Longview at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2013 at First Baptist Church Ford Chapel in Longview, Texas. Private family interment will be in Rosewood Mausoleum under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. Mrs. Wright died on Thursday, May 30, 2013. Mrs. Wright, 90, was born Martha Elizabeth Turner in Sherman, Texas to Arthur Lee Turner and Grace Conyers "Connie" Turner and attended Sherman schools. Mrs. Wright married the love of her life, Ernest John "E.J." Wright, on October 17, 1942 in Texarkana, Texas. She received her nursing degree from Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman in 1943. During the war years while E.J. was in the Navy, Mrs. Wright accompanied him to assignments in Williamsburg, Virginia and Gulfport, Mississippi where she worked as a nurse in a local hospital and in the Public Health Department. After moving to Longview in 1948, she worked as an office nurse for a private physician for five years and for Texas Eastman as a visiting nurse. In 1950 the late Dr. W. Morris Ford encouraged Mrs. Wright to serve as the nurse at First Baptist Church. She enjoyed that opportunity for Christian service for over 30 years and continued as an active and faithful member of First Baptist Church long after packing away her white nurse's uniform. She particularly enjoyed traveling with the BXYZ group and singing with the Saints Alive choir. Mrs. Wright was probably best known to thousands of Longview ISD school children as the school nurse at several local schools, including Valley View Elementary, Forest Park Middle School and Foster Middle School. She served as a school nurse for almost 30 years and was active in state and national nursing associations. In 1980 Texas Nurses Association District 25 honored her as Longview's "Nurse of the Year". She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Jamie Wright of Longview, her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and John White of Dallas, two grandchildren, Jeff Wright of Longview and Jennifer Wright of Plano, and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Wright was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, E.J. Wright, her father and mother, Arthur Lee and Connie Turner, and siblings Irene Turner, Emily Turner, John William Turner, Alice Turner Miller, Wade Turner and Virginia Turner Wall. The family wishes to express grateful appreciation to Mrs. Wright's caregivers, Paula Davis Alsobrook, Debbie Marberry and Glenda Rutledge. The loving and compassionate care they provided allowed Mrs. Wright to live her final years in comfort and peace. The family also thanks the staff of Beacon Hospice for the comfort they provided to Mrs. Wright while she was in their care. The family asks that any remembrance of the life of Martha Wright be through donation to the Organ Restoration Fund of First Baptist Church in Longview, the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice. The family will receive friends from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2013 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas.

Martha Elizabeth Wright

December 9, 1922 - May 30, 2013