Alice Wright

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our Mom. Wright, Alice Joan (aka Toni, Tony, Joanie) passed on November 25 at Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio. She had been living with her daughter Michelle and son in law Paul.

Alice was born to Myrtle Lillie (nee Mason), and Alonzo Lineberry in Flint, MI on December 6, 1933. She was the youngest of four daughters; her older sisters were Thelma, Wilma and Barbara. Her own mother died when she was nine years old. Her father re-married Mildred S (Pierce) who Alice adored, and we knew as our grandma.

Alice loved growing up in Flint and attended schools there. One of her favorite places was the Flint Public Library. She always remembered how beautiful it was and how she struggled to carry her stack of books home.

She married Wendall M. Wright on February 24 1951. She was 17, he was 21 “by 10 days” he liked to say as his birthday was February 16. They moved to Lobdell Lake next to Wendall’s parents who had a summer house there, before living there permanently. Mom and Dad’s “house” wasn’t much more than a shack at first. No running water, no power etc. They rectified that and raised their children there. They had 3 children: Vicki Marie (Steve Keller) in December of 1951, Wendall Scott (Char Cooper) in April of 1955 and Michelle Leigh (Paul Fletcher) in October of 1971. Alice also lost a couple of special babies, Amy in 1969 and Melissa - twin to Michelle - in 1971.

Throughout our growing up years, Mom and Dad ran “Wright’s Music Store” in Flint, which was a family business. It was a labor of love and a source of much fun and laughter (especially for us kids) and they enjoyed it. When the recession of 1980 hit, they had to close the store. She worked at JC Penney to make ends meet until Wendall secured a job.

Alice raised a lot of money for March of Dimes in the early 1960s. Because of her fund-raising efforts, she was chosen to travel for dinners and award shows.

Mom had 2 grandchildren, Aaron S. Keller and Christopher H. Keller. She loved them and enjoyed their company immensely. She loved to attend their games - football, hockey, baseball - in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mom was an avid bowler for most of her life. After taking a break in the 70s, she returned in the 80s. She bowled for years on the same team with Linda Dickinson, Bev Neuville and Dee Behrens. She enjoyed the many years of bowling, and her team even won their league one year. She later bowled on another team and had fun and joy with them also.

Alice loved shopping and eating out, and we had a lot of fun times on those endeavors. We laughed and laughed. She loved old movies, especially Westerns. She watched “Rio Lobo” so many times she probably knows every line! She loved her chocolate, too. A Hershey bar was never far away. Or a caramel. Or a marshmallow.

Mom loved nature and sitting out on her deck. Watching all the wildlife was a joy to her, especially the sandhill cranes, who returned to the swamp year after year to have babies.

Mom and Dad were married 56 years before Dad’s death due to Alzheimer’s. She was Dad’s primary caregiver for many years before he died in 2008.

A few years later, Mom found companionship with an old friend Bill Clark. They spent several happy years together in Grand Blanc, and Mom enjoyed getting to know Bill’s family and friends.

To all of Mom’s friends from “the landing”: thank you to all of you who lived, loved and laughed with Mom over the years. She never forgot any of you, or your kids, and thought about you often (and told stories, too!)

We also give special thanks to the Stehle girls, Janet, Shirley, Noreen and Theresa, for the love and care they gave Mom over the years. She loved you all dearly (you know our Moms would have the Scrabble board out!)

We would also like to thank Bill Clark’s family for their love and kindness to Mom and to us over the years. We loved Bill. May he rest in peace.

Mom leaves us - Vicki, Scott and Michelle and our spouses Steve, Char and Paul along with her grandson Chris - to cherish her memory. There are also so many nieces, nephews, cousins and personal and family friends, too numerous to mention, that Mom loved immensely we thank you. We love you.

Trying to do justice to a human life in this way is nearly impossible. Our love and appreciation for Mom was boundless, just as her encouragement and love for us was seemingly endless. We know how lucky we are that this vibrant, smart, funny and vivacious woman was also our Mom. To know her was to love her. We shall cherish her memory forever.

Mom is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wendall, sisters Thelma, Wilma and Barbara, and her grandson Aaron.

Funeral services will be held 1 PM Monday, December 5, 2022 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 East Broad Street, Linden. Visitation will be held 1-8 PM Sunday, December 4 and 11 AM Monday until the time of service at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Linden. Contributions may be made to Adopt-A-Pet Fenton. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.