Julie Wright
On the eighth of Aug., 2018, our wonderful Wife, Momma, Grammy, Daughter and Sister decided to leave her earthly home. Surrounded by her family Julie Linthacum Wright quietly and peacefully left us.
Julie was born Feb. 6, 1956, in Lovell, Wyo., the first child born to Louella and Donnell Linthacum. She was later joined by brother LaMark, and baby sister DonNella.
Julie’s childhood was filled with hours of time spent with her siblings, parents and grandparents in the Beartooth Mountains, fishing the “Broadwaters” and exploring the small towns of Silvergate, Cooke City, and what is now the Custer Battle Field. She held very fond memories of the time she spent with her family as a child.
Julie was wonderful at everything she did. Graduating valedictorian from Shepard High School, her ability to play the E-flat, F-concert French horn earned her an invitation to play in the Rose Bowl Parade and a full scholarship to Dillon to become a music teacher. Looking back, she regretted not taking the scholarship, but she had other dreams. She went to college to become a large animal vet. Julie attended college until she could not afford to, so she went to work.
Julie worked many jobs, from a stockyard worker in Billings, Mont., to a bartender, ranch hand, wonderful cook, and any other job that needed to be done. Never was she afraid to get her hands dirty or put in a full day’s work.
On June 23, 1979, in Colstrip, Mont., Julie married the love of her life, Ray Lewis Wright. They were holding hands as she slipped away.
In the spring of 1981, Julie and Ray had a daughter.
In January of 1983, the family welcomed the first son in Billings, Jake Russell A. Wright, was born.
In August 1984 they were blessed with the youngest son, Keith Richard E Wright, in the small town of Forsyth, Mont.
Jake and Keith were always able to give Mom a grand laugh and a few great scares, too. There was never a dull moment when Mom and her two boys were together.
Mom was in her element with three kids: being a Momma was one of her greatest prides, and she was the best Momma anyone could ever ask for. Giving birth to three kids was only the beginning of Julie’s list of kids. Our dinner table was always surrounded by the family, and it was normal to add chairs for any kid that wanted to join. Over the years, there are countless kids that still refer to Julie as Mom. To all that met her she was warm, caring, compassionate, supportive, helpful, teacher of many things, and so much more. Julie was always able to find the good in every person or animal she ever met.
As a family, Julie, Ray and their kids moved from Rosebud Creek to Lake Mary Ronan to help at the family-owned resort where Julie worked hard at every aspect of resort life, including cleaning cabins, managing and running the bar and restaurant to cleaning fish during the summer months. In the winter months, Mom would work in Polson.
At the lake she loved to sneak away and spend countless hours trolling or fly fishing. It always reminded her of her childhood, fishing with her grandfathers.
Finally, the family moved west of Ronan to live on a dairy, where Mom enjoyed her large garden, her many projects such as leatherwork. As well as spending time with her kidos, supporting them in any sport or club they were involved in.
Early on Christmas morning 2002, Julie found her most favorite job; Grammy!! Julia L. Daley, or “Monkey,” as Grammy referred to her as, was born.
Monkey was followed by another granddaughter in May of 2004, “Coony” Robbie R. Daley.
The first grandson “Tator Bug” JD Daley was born in May of 2005. Grammy had her heart and hands full, loving to have the little ones visit as much as possible.
On Aug. 12, 2006, Julie was so tickled to become a mother-in-law. She was the proud “Mother of the Groom” as oldest son Jake married his beautiful wife Pattie. Mom was thrilled to add another kid to her brood.
In the fall of 2003, Mom welcomed another wonderful kid to her fold as youngest son Keith added his better half Lauren to the family.
Jake and Pattie blessed Julie with a granddaughter in April of 2012. “Cutie Patootie” Averie L. Wright was born in Ogden, Utah.
Late-comer to the plate was the youngest grandson to date, “PJ” or “Mr O” Warren L Longpre, who was born in September 2015.
Grandma, Grammy, Gamma or Bamma (as the grandkids called her) was always there to teach, help, love, spoil, tease and again love each and every one of her precious grandkids. Her world really did revolve around them all! Every child Mom ever met was destined to become one of her kids or grandkids and remained that way.
Every holiday was celebrated to its fullest with Mom. We were always spoiled with her gift of a huge dinner, be it her awesome lasagna made from scratch, her mouth-melting prime rib or a simple barbecue complete with ribs and burgers and all the fixings. Each member of the family could always count on blowing their birthday candles on a homemade cake of their choice. With Mom singing Happy Birthday the loudest in the crowd.
Julie joins her beloved paternal and maternal grandparents in heaven, along with her step-dad Dale Schutt; her father-in law Warren “Pat” Wright; her aunts and uncles; and we cannot forget her well-loved pets, Cubby, Digger Dog and her lil’ Toby Dog.
Julie leaves behind her parents, Louella Schutt and Donnell Linthacum; siblings, LaMark, wife Terry and their daughters Daphne and Cassandra; DonNella and husband John; her husband of 39 years, Ray L. Wright; her mother-in-law Zada E. Wright and entire Wright family; children, Jake and Pattie Wright, and Keith and Lauren; grandbabies, Julia, Robbie, JD, Averie “Cutie Patooty,” and Warren; loving uncle Darrel Linthacum, wife Carol and family; close friends, Brittany Tagle, Terry Cummings, Heidi, Doyle Irish, Ed Slover and countless more I can’t think of right now.
A special “thank you” to Heather Jones and staff, the staff at St. Luke’s Physical Therapy department, and all the nurses that spent time with Mom over the years and many hospital visits, as well as, thank you to Sharline Clairmont for all the help, love and fun times.