Diane Guyer Wright
Diane Guyer Wright of Washington, formerly of Bridgehampton, died in Seattle on her 60th birthday, Friday, February 17, from complications following a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia.
Born to Joe and Mabel Guyer of Bridgehampton, she was raised on her family’s potato farm. Always demonstrating her work ethic as a farmer’s daughter, she sold crops at the family vegetable stand as a child and served customers at the local soda fountain as a teenager. Ms. Wright had a Guyer family potato bag displayed in her home until her death.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1974 from Ladycliff College, an all-women’s Catholic school outside the gates of West Point in upstate New York. It was there that she met Jim Wright, who was to be her husband for the next 37 years. Before their wedding at the Cadet Chapel in 1975, she worked for a year as a marine biologist on Long Island. She embraced her role as a military spouse during Mr. Wright’s 29 years of service and assignments in Colorado, Alabama and Washington. She thoroughly enjoyed parades, service academy sports and military functions.
Ms. Wright’s advocacy for the military was evident when she offered encouragement to her children during their combined 13 years of service and three deployments. Her son Jim was commissioned from the Air Force Academy and her daughter Lauren earned her commission through the ROTC program at Northwestern University. When Lauren married Mark Kimball, a B-1B pilot now deployed, Ms. Wright eagerly maintained her military support for her son-in-law and once again had a close military connection.
Most recently, Ms. Wright worked as a pharmacy technician at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital for 13 years and earned hospital recognition for personal and departmental achievements. She worked closely with nurses who would later tirelessly serve her during her extended hospitalization at St. Peter’s.
Ms. Wright enjoyed walking, gardening and was especially fond of playing volleyball and softball on church teams. As an active member of Timberline Baptist Church, she served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, kitchen coordinator, and completed a mission trip to Poland in 2010.
She is survived by her husband, Col. (Ret.) James A. Wright; two children, James M. Wright of Washington, and Lauren E. Wright Kimball of Texas; siblings, Victor Guyer and Sharon Guyer of Warnerville, George Guyer of Virginia, Joe Guyer of Virginia, and Irene Maggrett of Southampton.
Memorial donations to Timberline Baptist Church, 6628 Millen Road, Lacey, WA 98503 or Providence St. Peter Hospital Foundation, Attn: Cancer Care Fund, 413 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, WA 98506 would be appreciated by the family.
on Mar 20, 2012