Cleone Wright

Cleone S. Wright

Cleone S. Wright passed away on February 3, 2015, in San Jose, California at the age of 87.

Cleone was born on April 24, 1927, in Boy River, Minnesota to Mary Ann (Michels) and Harry Vernon Scofield and grew up with her seven brothers and sisters through the Great Depression. She moved to the Iron Range with her family and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1944. With her engaging personality, she developed a circle of loyal friends who remained dear to her throughout her life. In 1951, Cleone married Donald R. Wright and went on to raise five children with him in Hibbing. Despite the demands of raising a family and serving as bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Cleone’s creative energies bloomed. She was active in functions of St. Leo’s Church and in the Circle H Horse Club. She made riding costumes for her daughters and accompanied them to horse shows and also wrote a column on horsemanship for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Her greatest love was art.  Active in the Range Creative Artists Association, she produced oil paintings, watercolors and metal sculptures that are proudly displayed in homes and offices in the region. As her children left for college, she took jobs at WMFG and the State Services for the Blind. Through all of this time, Cleone was a sought-after friend and confidant, providing empathetic counsel and comfort over many cups of coffee.

Cleone was a warm and caring mother and is survived by her loving children: Samuel (Patricia Detmers) Wright of Westfield, New Jersey, Margaret (Russell)  Wierimaa of Denver, Colorado, Daniel Wright of San Jose, California, Thomas (Beth Kimball) Wright of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Karel (Donald Fleming) Wright of Orlando, Florida. She was a dear grandparent to her seven 7 grandchildren:  Alex, Julia, Christina, Peter, Evan, Connor, and Christian. Also surviving her are her sister, Mary Ann Pearson, of Carson City, Nevada, and sister-in-law Jean (Roger) Paschke of Melrose, Minnesota.  She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Donald, on May 30, 2002.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM Friday, June 12, 2015, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church followed by a graveside service and a reception. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM in the church on Friday. Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.  To leave an online message of condolence please visit our website at www.doughertyofhibbing.com.