Wanda Carolyn Wright

Wanda "Carolyn" (Jenkins) Wright, born December 23rd, 1943, to Arthur and Doris V. Jenkins in Charleston, Missouri. Carolyn grew up on a farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri with her loving parents and four siblings. In 1955, her family left Missouri to move to Rockton, Illinois where Carolyn would eventually graduate from Hononegah High School and then went on to graduate from Rockford Business College with her business degree. Carolyn met the love of her life Raymond "Willie" Wright and married him on December 13th, 1963. Shortly after starting her beloved family, Carolyn and Willie made a home in Loves Park, Illinois where they would live for over 45 years. Carolyn was as hard working as she was loving, and worked quite a few places throughout her life including Swedish American Hospital in the billing office and retired at 59 1/2 from Muller Pinehurst as an office clerk. That did not slow her down in the least. After retirement, she went on to be a caregiver not only for her mother, but other families who needed help. She worked with LSSI, Amara Corps, and was also a Barnabas minister. Carolyn used her knowledge in caregiving to teach her granddaughters not only love, but care and compassion and has led most of them down their career paths today. Carolyn was a ray of light on the darkest of days. She was a savior of lost souls, helping anyone and anything she could, even though many times it was at her own expense.

Carolyn was the back bone to her family and played a huge roll in the upbringing of each and every one of her daughters, grandchildren and many loved ones- blood or not. Carolyn did any and everything she could for her loved ones from a hug, to encouraging words, to transportation and a home- she was home for many of us. Carolyn was a woman of God and Grace with a heaping spoon full of humor, sarcasm and a heart of gold. Carolyn left light in her wake everywhere. She was a beacon of you. The Lord called her home on August 30th, 2023, after 79 years of life. Carolyn had a 10 month long battle with gallbladder cancer and treatment, fighting until God came calling. She is now free of all pain, worry and grief, and is now with her love Willie Wright; her daughter and son in-law Wendy and Jamey Klein; mother and father Arthur and Doris Jenkins; sister Evelyn Wright; brother Cliff Jenkins and many more loved ones.

Carolyn is survived by her sister Marilyn (Russ) Elliot; brother Jerry Jenkins; daughters Roxanne Wright and Sherri Boyd; 8 grandchildren,12 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and loved ones - far too many to name.

A graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 8800 North Alpine Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115, Friday, September 8th, 2023 at 2:00 PM with a potluck style luncheon immediately following held at Harvest Field Church, 5620 Auburn Street, Rockford, Illinois - feel free to bring a dish to pass, but you are not obligated. Please feel free to contact any immediate family with any questions.