Emma Louella Wright, 91, of La Grande, a former Baker City resident, died June 15, 2005, at a La Grande care center.
A graveside service and celebration of her life will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Abbey View Memorial Park in Brier, Wash. Arrangements are under the direction of Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande.
Emma Louella Wright was born on Nov. 21, 1913, at Glasgo, Mont. She was the oldest of eight children born to Pete and Minnie Hill Edd. The family moved to Williston, N.D., where she was raised and educated.
Emma married Leland Stroud at Williston, N.D. They later divorced and Emma moved to Seattle, Wash.
In 1945 she married Henry Benter in Seattle, where they lived until 1947 when they moved to Oregon. They lived at Springfield, Mayville and Baker City. They were Baker City residents from 1954 to 1961.
They next moved to La Grande where they remained until Henry’s death in 1965 when she moved to Seattle to be near her sisters. She married Bill Wright in 1978 at Olympia, Wash., and lived at Bremerton, Wash., until her husband’s retirement from the shipyards. They moved to Canton, N.C. Bill died in 1986. Emma remained at Canton until 1993 when she returned to La Grande.
She was an excellent gardener and could grow anything. She was a wonderful seamstress and loved to sew. She was an excellent cook and prepared wonderful meals for her family. She collected dolls and liked traveling, visiting places in the United States and Europe.
Survivors include her son, Donald Stroud of Ketchikan, Alaska; daughters, Alice Williamson and Roberta Adlard, both of La Grande; adopted son, Richard Benter of Fletcher, N.C.; stepchildren Rayman Benter, John Benterof Crosby of North Dakota and Milred Kjorli of Havre, Mont.; sisters Ruth Trainer, Verna DeWitt, Nyla Wills, and Betty Conners all of Seattle; a brother, Zell Edd of Williston, N.D.; granddaughters, Penny Anderson of Sand Point, Idaho, Terry Tarter of Richland, Sue Lightfoot of Lincoln City, Christine Carlson of La Grande, Beth Schmidt of Monmouth, Bonnie Samples of Oregon City, Connie Stroud of Edmond, Wash., and Lonnie Stroud; grandsons, James Devine of Sand Point, Idaho, and John Williamson of La Grande; 21 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Jess Edd, who died in World War II; and a sister, Edna DeLapp.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice through Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, OR 97850.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 27, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor