Joyce Wright

Joyce Elsine Wright, 86, of Casey, Iowa, passed away May 18, 2013, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.


Joyce was born June 26, 1926, in Elk Point, South Dakota, the daughter of Roy C. and Esther (Jensen) Titus. At the age of 6 weeks, her family moved to Guthrie Center, Iowa. She attended Guthrie Center schools and graduated with the class of 1943. On May 8, 1943, she was united in marriage to Leo L. Wright in the Baptist Parsonage in Grant City, Missouri. During their married life they lived and farmed near Menlo, Iowa, and Guthrie Center, Iowa, before moving to their farm just east of Casey, Iowa, in 1951 where they farmed and raised their family.

Leo died April 7, 2008, and Joyce remained in her home until December of 2012 at which time she moved to the Allen House in Atlantic, Iowa. Joyce was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Casey, Iowa. She was the Superintendent of the Bible School for 10 years and held many offices in the United Methodist Women, including district president. Joyce was a charter member of the neighborhood Triple K Club. She and Leo helped organize the Casey Dance Club and Snappy Steppers Square Dance Club.

She worked for the Playhouse Company and was a salesperson and later a supervisor for 18 years. Joyce especially enjoyed planning and attending family reunions and visiting with her family and grandchildren. She took each of her grandchildren on "special days" as they were growing up. Her special gift was making friends and being a friend. Joyce and Leo enjoyed traveling overseas and inside the United States. Whenever the opportunity would arise they would take off and go somewhere.

Joyce is survived by her three sons, Robert (Donna) Wright of Laurel, Delaware, Dick (Jan) Wright of Ames, Iowa, and Verle (Joyce) Wright of Marshall, Virginia; her daughter, Renae (Greg) Wedemeyer of Adair, Iowa; her grandchildren, Dan (Cathy) Wright of Ames, IA, Robin (Victor Zaborskiy) Wright of Washington State, Aaron (Shari) Wright of Woodbridge, Virginia, Eric Wright of Washington D.C., Olivia Wedemeyer of Denver, Colorado, Tara (Mike Walter) Wedemeyer, of Raymore, MO, Dax Wedemeyer, of West Des Moines, IA, Seth Wedemeyer of Ames, IA, Ben (Judi) Wright of Tipton, IA, Anthony Wright of St. Cloud, MN, Matt (Kirsten) Wright of Dale City, VA and Jennifer Cattell of West Des Moines, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Daniel (Kelly) Wright, Bryan (Krystal) Wright, Christina (Zach) Dalaba, Hannah Miles, Joseph Wright, Josephine Walter, Maura Walter, Elizabeth Wright, Alexander Wright, Caroline Wright and Aubri Wright; great-great-grandchildren, Kaden Wright and Bowen Wright; 9 step-grandchildren; 16 step-great-grandchildren; 9 step-great-great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Dwayne Wright; sisters-in-law, Reta Wright and Lavaun Wright; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; her daughter, Dailynn Cattell; her parents; her brother, Duane Titus; her sister, Dixie Liddick; 12 brothers-in-law, and 8 sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 23, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Casey, Iowa. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., preceding funeral services, also at the United Methodist Church in Casey.

Burial will be in the Dalmanutha Cemetery in Casey, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Adair, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.