Obituary for (Stella) Orene Tiffee Wright

Orene Wright, age 96, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2018, at Coon Memorial Home hospice in Dalhart, Texas. She had been a resident of Guymon, Oklahoma, for six years.

The first child of rural school teacher Della Gilbert and World War I veteran Charles Franklin Tiffee, Orene was born November 29, 1921 in Howe, Oklahoma. Raised in northwest Arkansas, she graduated from high school in Gentry, Arkansas.

A dedicated caregiver, she helped her mother raise four younger siblings after her father died from World War I injuries. She married Walden William Wright in 1946. They lived in Burbank, Westville, Tonkawa, and Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he was a teacher and principal. Summers were spent traveling with children to many parts of the U.S., camping, fishing, and learning history of the areas visited. They traveled and spent winters in Arizona during retirement.

Orene and Walden were supportive, involved parents of daughter (Coleen) Evlyn and son Merl Webb Wright. Special attention was given to the three Schmidt grandchildren during their summer visits to Ponca City. Orene and Walden were always present for their Wright grandsons sporting events and school activities in Ponca City.

Orene was an accomplished seamstress, gardener, quilter, and cook who loved making homemade hot rolls, pies, and tasty meals for her family. She leaves behind quilts and crocheted afghans made with love for family members.

She was a lifetime member of the Westville, Oklahoma, Order of the Eastern Star; former member of the First Baptist Church in Ponca City; and a current member of Guymon Lions Club, where Orene enjoyed her new friends in Guymon.

Survivors are daughter Evlyn and husband John Schmidt, Guymon, and son Merl and wife Charla Wright, Ponca City. Special grandchildren who will continue her caring legacy are Courtney (Schmidt) and husband Thomas Gibbens, Aurora, Colorado; Jacob and wife Amanda (Young) Schmidt, Manhattan, New York; Nicholas and wife Sarah (Gething) Schmidt, Seattle, Washington; Bartlend Wright, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Braxton Wright, Norman, Oklahoma. Great grandchildren are Griffin Gibbens, college student in Troy, New York; Hudson, Lawson, and Stella Gibbens, Aurora, Colorado; and Levi Schmidt, Seattle, Washington.

Survivors also include sister Bessie Tiffee Lockhart, brother William Tiffee, special niece Thelma Costulis, and many friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Pauline Tiffee, sister Bonnie Tiffee Fisher, and husband Walden Wright.

Family graveside services will be held at a later date in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where Orene will be laid to rest next to her late husband.