Laurie Wright

It is time to say goodbye for now to Laurie Wright, 88, of Clovis, who passed from this life to the next on August 14, 2023.

She was born the eldest child of Marshall and Georgiana Cooper March 21, 1935, in the home of her Richardson grandparents in Roosevelt County, NM. Being born on the first day of spring, she was given the name Verna Laurine, but most everyone called her Laurie. She enjoyed and excelled in school, skipping a grade to graduate in 1952 from Portales High School. Next stop was a whopping half-mile down the road to Eastern NM University, where she earned a degree in Journalism.

After teaching high school English for a year at Ranchvale School, Laurie worked for newspapers in Dallas and Parmer County, Texas. Mutual friends in Friona, the Floyd family, introduced her to Gerald E. Wright, and they married at Central Christian Church in Portales on August 26, 1960. Their marriage lasted twenty-five years and was blessed with two sons and a daughter. They farmed near Grier and operated Clovis Auto Parts on Hwy 60 for most of those years.

After filling the role of homemaker for many years, Laurie started a new career as a custom quilter. She opened Contempo-Quilt & Yarn on Main Street in Clovis in 1985, operating a retail store along with the quilting service until 1999, and continued quilting from home for customers, family, friends and herself as long as she was able.

Laurie was accomplished in a variety of fiber arts, and largely self-taught. Her repertoire over the years included knitting, crocheting, tatting, macramé, sewing and quilting. She joyfully curated an extensive private textiles collection, designing and creating gifts for friends and family.

Laurie loved to play all kinds of word games, but was especially ruthless (& usually victorious) at Scrabble. No crossword puzzle was safe within her reach.

In collaboration with sister-in-law Ann Cooper, she helped publish a book of her mother Georgiana’s Idle Chatter newpaper columns, reprinted from the Portales News-Tribune.

Laurie will be remembered for her hard work, quick wit and sense of humor, all of which served her well during many trying times.

Laurie was preceded in death by her husband Gerald; her parents; sister Lillian Jones and husband Arthur of Sutton, AK; brother Lewis Cooper and wife Ann of Texico, NM; grandson Dwayne Davis; and many treasured cousins, in-laws and friends.

Surviving Laurie are her son Gerald “G” Wright and wife Laura of Amarillo; Ernie Wright and wife Tricia of Clovis; Marsha Wright and husband Craig Runyan of Williamsburg, NM. She was “Grammy G” to Ken Davis and wife Angie of Beaufort, SC; M’Shell Casida and husband Terrel of Amarillo; and eight great-grandchildren. She was Grandma to Ethan Wright and wife Katelynn of Hartley, TX; Granny to Carson Runyan and Mason Runyan of Williamsburg, NM. She is also survived by brother-in-law Donnie Wright and wife Cynthia of Chism, OK; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is grateful to the people of Wheatfields, Genesis St. Anthony Healthcare Center, and Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care of Laurie during her last days.

Per Laurie’s wishes, no funeral or graveside services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations to Food Bank of Eastern NM (https://www.fbenm.org/donate) or NM Christian Children’s Home (https://nmcch.org/donate/) would honor Laurie’s memory.

A memorial service for Laurie will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Brick Street Warehouse, located at 321 N. Main St. in Clovis.