Obituary of Maxine Agnes Wright

Maxine Agnes Wright, nee Wyman, of Eden Prairie, MN, passed away on December 20, 2023, at the age of 99. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband James Wright, Sr., son Tom Wright, stepdaughter Skippy Sellers, Skippy’s beloved husband David Sellers, and grandson Mike Sellers. She is survived by her daughters, Carole Steinbrenner (Paul) and Linda Wright, her stepson James Wright, Jr., (Dee), her brother Dale Wyman, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Beloved by her family for her warmth, spunk, and creativity, she will be greatly missed. 
 
Maxine was born on July 3, 1924, on a farm in Hancock, MN, to Agnes and Eddie Wyman. She was the fifth of seven. She had four older and two younger brothers to whom she was devoted all her life. 
 
Maxine grew up in the Minneapolis area during the depression and attended high school and beauty school there. She married Jacques Dietrich in 1944, and together they had three children. She and her husband and children moved to Portland, OR, in the mid-forties. Together, she and her husband opened a beauty salon. They divorced in 1950. 
 
Maxine stayed in Portland, raising her young family by herself until in 1957 she married Jim Wright, the love of her life. Together they raised five children and ran a successful contracting business until they retired from that to pursue other business opportunities. They relocated to Pacific City, OR, in the 80’s and ran a successful Bed and Breakfast.  After her husband’s death in 1995, she helped her son raise his three young daughters. 
 
Maxine was an entrepreneur. During her long life, she had numerous beauty salons, sold real estate, ran a successful bed and breakfast, managed her own rental properties, and ran a successful coffee shop. She retired in her eighties and moved to Eden Prairie to live with her youngest brother, Dale Wyman. 
 
Maxine was a staunch supporter of the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church, and, while she lived there, the Pacific City Chamber of Commerce. 
 
Maxine was devoted to her children, grand and great-grandchildren, and all her large extended family, and they were just as devoted to her. 
 
Maxine loved to garden, sew, craft, dance, and paint. While she was able (well into her eighties) she loved to golf. Maxine also loved to fish and spend time at her brother’s cabin on Lake Minnewawa (McGregor, MN). 

A Celebration of Life for Maxine will be held on June 15, 2024 from 11:00 am to 2:00pm at the tan event barn located at 12000 Silverwood Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Allina Health Foundation, 2925 Chicago Ave Mail Route 10721, Minneapolis, MN, 55407 or the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church, PO Box 337, Pacific City, OR, 97135.