Tess Wright

Tess Wright, 62, of Hot Springs, died Tuesday, May 30,

2017.

She was born on Dec. 27,

1954, in Sacramento, Calif., the daughter of Roland Wallin and Noreen Nienaber Wallin. On Feb. 5, 1977, she married the love of her life, Barry Wright. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Barry and Tess moved to Arkansas shortly after they married. Tess earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Henderson State University and immediately began teaching first grade at Lake Hamilton School District, where she taught for 34 years. She was devoted and passionate about each and every student that crossed her path during her career. It drove her family crazy that she could remember every student she ever taught. This meant they spent 3-4 hours at any given store because she knew everyone and never met a stranger.

Anyone that knew Tess was well aware that her daughters, grandchildren and husband (in that order) were what made her heart beat. Her daughters often called her “Super Mom” because she conquered anything in her path. A regular day began with a 4 a.m. workout, getting three girls ready for school, teaching, after school activities for all three, a homemade dinner every night and three girls to bed without a complaint. She never missed a beat. Being a mother was her greatest joy until she became a grandmother. She was always with her grandchildren and daughters. They were spoiled beyond measure with her love. She did everything with them. She was their second mom.

Over the past 24 years, Tess battled congestive heart failure, but nobody ever knew it. She wouldn’t allow this disease to stop her from living her life. Even in the end stages of CHF, her busy lifestyle continued. She didn’t miss a day of school, cooked Christmas dinner, took care of her best friend/ husband and had a sleepover with three of her grandbabies. Tess remained energetic, full of spunk, didn’t know how to slow down and she always told you like it was. If you wanted the truth with no sugar coating, Tess was your person.

She even went to school the day she was admitted to the hospital. She was the strongest woman we knew. She was our backbone, our cheerleader, our rock, our everything. She fought long and hard the past five months. We are not quite sure how life works without her, but we do know she will be loving and guiding us for the rest of our lives with God by her side.

She is survived by her husband, Barry Wright, of Hot Springs; three daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle and Todd Merriott, Melissa and Jordan Chadick and Mary Kate and Tim Pricop, all of Hot Springs; six grandchildren, Blaine Merriott, Anna Kate Chadick, Jahna Tess Pricop, Blake Merriott, Caroline Chadick and Declan Pricop; three brothers and one sister-in-law, John Wallin, of Salt Lake City, Utah, David Wallin and Tim and Patti Wallin, all of Sacramento, Calif.; one sister, Stephanie Angelica, of Vancouver, Wash.; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Services will be held at

10 a.m. Tuesday in the First Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Ken Carney officiating.

Interment will be in Mount Tabor Cemetery, near Glenwood.

Honorary pallbearers will be Stephanie Angelica, Melynda Gidcomb, Ramona Abernathy, Bobbie Akers, Susan Wilkins, Dollie McKinnon, Charlene Johnson, Ladonna Bornhoff, Tonya Boone, Shelly Arnold and the Lake Hamilton School District.

Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.