Dorothy Wright Bishop

Dorothy Wright Bishop

1929 – 2022

On June 25, 2022, Dorothy Wright Bishop, loving wife and mother of seven, passed away peacefully at the age of 92 in Highland, Utah. She was living with her daughter, Stacy, and son-in-law Michael at the time of her death.

Dorothy was born on August 2, 1929, in Tooele, Utah to Frank and Dora (Bevan) Wright. She was the third of seven children and the only girl. The oldest, Gerald, died shortly after his birth. Dorothy married Duane Wallace Bishop on August 7, 1952, and they raised seven children together.

Dorothy spent the first five years of her life in several small towns in the Salt Lake City area. The family then moved to Blanding, Utah, where her father had grown up and had many family members there. She spent the next twelve years enjoying a wonderful childhood among family and friends. She met her lifelong best friend, Phyllis Jones, shortly after moving to Blanding and they and Dorothy’s many cousins spent most of their time together. She graduated from San Juan High School, moved to Salt Lake City and attended LDS Business College, worked as a nanny and at Beneficial Life Insurance Company, and spent summers at home working at the Post Office. Dorothy served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission. During her mission she began writing to a young man named Duane Bishop who was serving in another mission. They began dating after returning home and married in 1952.

Duane and Dorothy began their lives together in Utah and welcomed 4 daughters and a son, DonEla, Diane, Beverly, Stacy, and Tommy into their family. Eventually they ended up moving to the San Diego area (Santee, to be exact) and added another son, Russell, and a daughter, Lanette. Lanette was born with severe disabilities, and everyone pitched in to help with her care. Duane and Dorothy spent many years in Santee and then moved back to Utah after Duane retired. They loved their time in California, and also enjoyed being back in Utah until they moved to Idaho, where Duane passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2013. Dorothy lived with her son, Russell and his wife, Ronda, for six years, where she was taken care of with love and tenderness. Nine months ago, she moved in with Stacy and gradually declined in health until her passing.

Dorothy was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived her religion through her example and her actions. She held many callings in every organization, but her favorite might have been her years in the Nursery. She gave her all in everything she did, and her time with the little children was no exception. She loved them so much and kept in touch with many of them over the years.

Dorothy was an avid journalist, and we have countless volumes of her history, including callings, life histories, daily living, and family letters. She left behind a treasure trove of her written word and these journals will be a gift to her family for generations to come.

Dorothy was devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She spent her life in service to them and rarely thought of herself. She loved to read the scriptures and read and studied The Book of Mormon every day. She had a testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and passed away with that knowledge intact.

Dorothy is survived by her children, DonEla Burke, Diane Kerbs (Cliff), Beverly Woods (Craig), Stacy Brooks (Michael), Ann Bishop, and Russell Bishop (Ronda), 26 grandchildren, 107 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and three brothers: Bevan Wright, Lynn Wright, and Otis Wright.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Bishop; her son, Thomas Bishop; her daughter, Lanette Bishop; her parents, Frank and Dora Wright; and three brothers: Gerald Wright, Willard Wright, and Edward Wright.

We express our thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Inspiration Home Health and Hospice, especially to Randi, who tenderly treated our mother with kindness and took such great care in making sure she was comfortable and respected. We are also so grateful to Shawn at Warenski Funeral Home. His advice and help were much appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Graveside services for Dorothy will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Blanding City Cemetery, Blanding, Utah.