Mary Sturgeon Wright's Obituary
Mary Sturgeon Wright, 78, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on September 18, 2025, at her home. She was born on January 20, 1947, in Aruba, Dutch West Indies, to John F. Sturgeon and Shirley H. Sturgeon. Much of Mary’s early childhood spanned between Aruba and Venezuela.
Mary graduated from Phillips Academy (“Andover”), Andover, Massachusetts in 1964 at the age of 17. She received her B.A. Degree from Judson College, Marion, Alabama in 1966 at the age of 19.
She married Tilden P. “Chip” Wright III, on December 24, 1964. They were married 51 years until his passing in 2016. Mary was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.
During her lifetime, Mary loved her family and her pets. Early in life, Mary gained an appreciation of education, international customs, and equestrian sports. She enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, and being outdoors. As the daughter of an engineer and artist, Mary developed an innate ability to create masterful blueprints of architectural design without formal training. While some questioned her ability to create durable architectural design, she delivered with her unwavering commitment in the design and development of her dream home where she lived for over 30 years. Along the way, Mary developed a keen eye for art, thanks to the observations of her mother’s work. This enabled her to spot talent and acquire numerous pieces from aspiring artists.
Mary and her husband, Chip, enjoyed many years of travel together. Some of their favorite trips involved trips to Colorado, more specifically skiing the slopes of Copper Mountain and Aspen with their children. Later in life, some of their favorite destinations were Grand Cayman, Alaska and Canada.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Chip, and her parents, John and Shirley Sturgeon. Mary is survived by her son, Jeff Wright, of Incline Village, Nevada, and fiancée Sarah Heiser, of Carmel, California; daughter, Robyn Wright Green, and husband, Brian, of Devon, Pennsylvania; and six grandchildren: Jordan, Austin and Alexa Wright; Aidan Green; and Jeff’s fiancés’ children, Paige and Per Venge.
There will be a private family memorial graveside service at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local humane society. You may leave a tribute at https://www.bernafuneralhomes.com. Arrangements by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
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