Wright, Dora 'Joan'

Dora “Joan” Wright, 78, of Swisher, died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, conducted by the Rev. Stasia Fine. Family will greet friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the funeral home. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Benjamin L. Wright Sr. of Swisher; children, Debra (Charles) James of Urbana, Shawnee (Jack) Owens, Sherrie (Allan) Novak and Ben (Cyndi) Wright Jr., all of Cedar Rapids, Jeff (Tammi) Wright of Swisher, Bruce Wright of Swisher, and Peggy (Larry) Kacher and Nancy (Joseph) Justice, both of Cedar Rapids; 25 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; several stepgrandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; lots of nieces and nephews; siblings, Jewell (Bill) Wright of Keokuk, Juanita (Joanie) Bown of Missouri, Jimmy (Debbie) Bown of Texas and Jerry (Glenda) Bown of Illinois; and best friend from school, Betty (Richard) McCarl of Keokuk.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter-in-law, Kathleen Wright.

Joan was born Aug. 19, 1935, in La Plata, Mo., daughter of James Randell and Dora Nora (Kautz) Bown. She worked at Square D Co. for 23 years. On Oct. 7, 1951, she married Benjamin L. Wright Sr. Joan was the love of his life.

Joan was a member of New Disciples of Cedar Rapids Church, Swisher American Legion Auxiliary and Teamsters. She enjoyed going to Texas for the winters, the Ozarks and riding the golf cart, but most of all, her children were the loves of her life. Joan always put everyone else before herself.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice House of Mercy.

Please sign the online guest book for Joan at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Nov. 15, 2013 in The Gazette