Feb. 5, 1932-May 1, 2008

Kathleen was born Kathleen Evelyn Crowder on Feb. 5, 1932, and passed away May 1, 2008, in Arcata, Calif. She was born to Clyde Lydell and Mable Evelyn Crowder in Greenville, Miss. Kathleen was nicknamed “Sandy” while living in Bermuda with her sister Hazel and husband.

While in Bermuda, she met Otto Hartman (Barney) Wright, of Petrolia, Calif. After moving back to the states, they were married and resided in Petrolia. They had two sons at this time, Larry Hartman, born 1950, and Paul Dale, born 1951.

Around 1959, the family moved to Trinity County. During their stay there, two more children were born to them, Eugene Raymond (1959) and Bessie Robin (1964). Sadly, Barney passed away in 1966. Kathleen resided in Trinity County until 1982. She then moved to Shasta County, where she lived until 1998.

While in Shasta County, she met Leonard Miller. They were together until he passed away in 1998. Kathleen then moved back to Humboldt County to be near children and other family.

Kathleen worked as a waitress for many year in the Trinity County area, mostly in the restaurants and lodges along the Trinity River. She raised four children alone and did a great job. It wasn’t until all of them were grown that she was able to remarry. She had 15 happy years with Leonard.

The cooler climate and family brought her back to the coast. She was a volunteer foster grandparent at Morris Elementary School and during the summer at Bloomfield School. Kathleen was very proud to be in the Foster Grandparent Program. She also loved to boast of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Kathleen loved family gatherings, the ocean, gardening, reading, old country music and action-adventure movies.

She is survived by her children Larry Wright, Paul Wright and his wife Gail, Eugene Wright and partner Trina, and Robin Bartlett and her husband Cary. Her grandchildren include Larry’s children, Patrick, Keith and Michael Wright; Paul’s children, Richard, Larry and Tammy Wright; Gene’s children, Barney and Jenny Wright; and Robin’s children, Bert and Brad Bartlett. She had many great-grandchildren. There are also many nephews and nieces in the Humboldt County area.

Extra special thanks go to Eugene and partner Trina for all the care and time given to Mom’s needs near the end, with awesome help from Hospice of Humboldt. Our special helpers from Hospice of Humboldt are Jamie, Mary Helen, Jim and Mike.

The family gathered to celebrate Kathleen’s life on May 18 with a family barbecue in the style that she loved.

“Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’”

Proverbs 31:28-29