Mary Lou Wright

WEBSTER-Mary Lou Wright, age 92, of rural Webster, died Friday, February 14, 2020, at Manor House Care Center in Sigourney.
Mary Lou was born May 31, 1927, on a farm southwest of Webster, the daughter of Francis Leo and Minnie (McBride) Wright. She attended school in Webster until the 11th grade when she transferred to Ottumwa Heights Academy in Ottumwa. She graduated in 1945. Mary Lou continued her education at Ottumwa Heights Junior College and at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Biology.
Her teaching experiences included Ottumwa Heights Academy and College in Ottumwa, Lourdes High School in Rochester, Minnesota, Elkader, Iowa Public School, Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio, University of Iowa in Iowa City, Douglas College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
While teaching in North Dakota, Mary Lou took flying lessons and received her private pilots license. Since then she had timed the Air Race Classic (an air race for female pilots) for over 25 years at various airports in the United States. In 1972, Mary Lou and two other pilots flew to Alaska and crossed the Arctic Circle. She was a member of the Ninety-Nines (an organization of women pilots) and the Roman Catholic Church.
After the death of her father, Mary Lou took over the family farming operation, buying the farm land where she grew up. She enjoyed the outdoors, picking blackberries, riding horses and hiking with her dogs. She most especially enjoyed regular visits by her family to the "old home place."
Survivors include her nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Jesse F. Wright and Richard O. Wright.

Special thanks to the staff at Manor House Care Center and to the Wehr family for their care and support of Mary Lou these past years.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney, with Fr. Robert Lathrop officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Sigourney. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2020, at Powell Funeral Home in Sigourney, where there will be a vigil service at 4:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary Church or to an organization of your choice. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for Mary Lou and her family. Tributes may be made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.