WRIGHT – Elma Iris (nee King) Formerly of Sherwood Forest and Shirley Castle, Portland died on September 2, 2011. Leaving son Owen Crooks, 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and other relatives. Pre-deceased by husband Keith, sons Milton, Chester and McNeil Cato. Thanksgiving Service at Mamby Park Baptist Church, Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Cheerful colours please.
ELMA IRIS KING-WRIGHT
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Friend…
Born on what she normally described as the longest and hottest day of the year - June 21, 1926, in the verdant hills of Shirley Castle, Portland nestled in the Blue Mountains.
Elma was the last of 6 girls, and the 11th child of George and Whillel King. Being the baby girl, she lived a protected childhood with her older siblings constantly looking out for her.
She attended the Shirley Castle Primary School – always ahead by skipping grades as they called it.
Steeped in the church, she became a Sunday School teacher. She was full of admiration for the School Principal, Mr. Smith, who was an accomplished organist, and requested music lessons. This she mastered very quickly, and played not just for his send off from the district, but for the Church Assembly in Kingston where after the function, who appeared to congratulate her, but Mr. Smith himself. In addition to being the church organist, she became the choir master.
She was blessed with 4 boys – Robin, Chester, Owen and McNeil whom she adored.
Concerned about leaving her 4 boisterous boys at home, with a doting grandmother and very accommodating uncles, she took them with her everywhere she went. This meant that they were forced to attend every church service, prayer meeting, funeral etc.- much to their dismay. But the fact is she couldn’t risk leaving those 4 rambunctious boys behind.
She started the first Basic School in the district, driven by the need to offer early childhood education to youngsters in the community including her sons.
She remained an integral part of her boys’ lives during and well beyond their formative years. Like many before her, she was content to live a simple life, working in the small community, until Chester won a government scholarship to Titchfield High School in Port Antonio. That changed her outlook, and she travelled to Port Antonio, undertook secretarial studies, and commenced working with the then Member of Parliament, and Parliamentary Secretary. She subsequently took over the management of his lumber, block-making and furniture enterprises. In later years she fell in love with and got married to his son, Keith Wright, who sadly passed on many years ago.
She joyfully worked to support her sons until they each started their own careers, built her cottage in Sherwood Forest, and retired. She became reluctant to leave her home for extended periods.
She was greatly aggrieved by the passing of her youngest son McNeil who died at sea at about age 30 when the oil tanker he worked on exploded. Her other two sons, Robin and Chester, succumbed to cancer in their 50’s. Leaving her with one surviving child - my father, Owen, who was devoted to her.
It took all her Christian resolve to get over such tragedies in her life – but her loss was evident.
Failing health and loss of mobility over the last 6 years, led her to live with her son for a while, and when further nursing care was required, she became a resident of the Milvaja Nursing Home in Port Morant, St. Thomas. Her mental faculties, however, remained intact, and her memory sharp as she would recall milestones of her close relatives, particularly her grand and great grandchildren.
Mother suffered a heart attack on August 31, and died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday, September 2, 2011.
May God grant her peaceful rest.
