Shirley Wright

CANTON – Shirley Mason Wright, 92, passed away Tuesday, September 7th, 2021, at her home in the Beaverdam community.

A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Thelma Holland Lanning and Donald Mason.  Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Harley E. Wright, Jr., who died in 2013, a half-sister, Rachel Lynn Sherlin and two step-sisters, Roberta Reeves and Frankie Barstow.    She is survived by three sons, Bob Wright and his wife Polly Cable Wright of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Carl Wright and his wife, Jill Satterfield Wright, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Lee Wright and his wife, Janet Adams Wright, of Savannah, Tennessee; a daughter, Melissa Wright Truitt and her husband, Tom Truitt, of Waynesville; one brother, Bill Mason and his wife Marie, of Wingate, North Carolina; ten grandchildren, Carol Johnson (James), Josh, Alan (Jalinda), Alex (Diane), Wesley (Sheree), Robbie (Mollie), Natalie and Taylor Wright, Luke (Holly) and Lyndsey Kinsland; two step-grandsons, Brandon and Austin Truitt; eleven great-grandchildren, Grace, Charlie and Macks Johnson, Atley Kinsland, Emeri, Maddox, Ada, Izzy, Selah, Johnnie and Skylar Wright, with two more great-grandchildren due to be born this October and November; and three nieces, Shirley Williams, Brenda Grubb and Rayanna Arthur.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Shirley’s life centered around her family, loving nothing more than cooking and baking for them.  She enjoyed reading, crocheting, sewing and square dancing in her younger years. Her greatest joy and life accomplishment was being a mother as she was full of love for all of her family.  She was loved dearly and will be missed by all who were fortunate to know her.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Shirley’s caregiver, Lydia Karnga, for her consummate care and compassion in the last several weeks of her life.  The family is also very appreciative to CarePartners Hospice – especially Nurse DeAnna Kirton for her loving and wonderful care.

A memorial service to celebrate Shirley’s life will be announced for a later date.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Beaverdam United Methodist Church, 1269 Beaverdam Road, Canton, NC  28716.

The care of Shirley has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.