She was born September 4, 1924, in Afton, Wyoming, the youngest of four children born to William Elmo Papworth and Florence Mae Roberts Papworth. She grew up in Afton and graduated in 1943 from Star Valley High School. Following graduation, she went to Salt Lake to attend teletype school to become an operator for Western Union. After completing school, she transferred to San Diego where she worked for 2 years.

On June 12, 1945, she married Robert Glen Wright, a Star Valley cowboy she had met on a blind date. They were married in Idaho Falls and honeymooned back home to Star Valley. They lived in Thayne for 5 years where both of their children were born.

About 1950, a business opportunity came along and the family moved to Salmon where her husband became the owner of the Salmon Short Line Bus Company. In 1961, another business opportunity came and they moved to Idaho Falls where they purchased the Star Valley Jackson Stages. Besides being a homemaker, Marie was the secretary, bookkeeper and occasionally even drove the bus. In 1977, the business was sold and she and Bob retired. They remodeled one of their buses into a motor home and spent the winters in Phoenix, AZ.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served as a Primary teacher and a visiting teacher.

Marie enjoyed singing with the "Sweet Adelines" for many years. She was a volunteer "Pink Lady" at Riverview Hospital and later EIRMC where she donated over 5000 hours during her 20 plus years of service. She also enjoyed playing pinnochle and bingo every Wednesday at the Senior Citizen Center and with a widow's luncheon group every Thursday. Besides playing cards and singing, she enjoyed doing crafts, flower gardening and traveling with her husband.

She loved her family and always respected their privacy. Marie was loved and nurtured by her family and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by the following: a son, Joel P. (Renell) Wright of Idaho Falls; a daughter, Vicky M. (Rob) Clayton of Rigby; 4 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with another expected in January.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, who died in 1986; her parents, 2 brothers and a sister.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 13, 2009, at the Ammon LDS 3rd Ward Chapel, 2150 Avocet in Ammon with Bishop Sid Beattie officiating. The family will visit with friends Wednesday evening from 6-7:00 p.m. at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St., Idaho Falls, and Thursday one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com