Elaine (Samuelson) Needham

Elaine Needham, 96, died peacefully on June 17, 2021 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. She was born in So. Ryegate, Vermont to Frederick H. and Georgiana Samuelson, the second of two girls.

Elaine graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont in 1943. Her travel adventures started when she and her older sister, Deanie, moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Navy. Further travels had Elaine going to Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Canada, Alaska, Africa and Asia.

In August 1946, she married the Rev. George T. Wright. They moved to Illinois where Nancy Jo was born. The moves continued to Evanston, Wyoming where Christine was born and on to Encampment, Wyoming where Ann and Fred were born.  The last move in Wyoming was to Thermopolis. With the move to Flagstaff, Arizona life changed for Elaine as George encouraged her to get a teaching degree from Northern Arizona University.  Artesia, New Mexico is where Elaine got her first teaching job and her Masters in Education in the summers from Eastern N.M. University. 

Her hobbies were playing the piano, reading, doing needlework, tending her flower gardens, and her cat Boots.

Elaine belonged to the Presbyterian Church, USA, member of two P.E.O. chapters, and the New Mexico Retired Teachers Association.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands George T. Wright and Robert Needham, her sister Glendeen Gonzales and grandson Sam Sudderth.

Elaine is survived by daughters, Nancy Jo Bleier (Roger) of Sitka, Alaska; Christine Wright of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Ann (John) Sudderth of Casper, Wyoming; her son, Fred (Susan Taylor) Wright of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; grandchildren, Joshua (Jen) Sudderth, Eric (Blair) Wright, Emily (Clint) Grudier, Ethan Wright; her precious great grandchildren, Kyndall, Kelseigh and Kassidy Wright; nephews Greg Gonzales, David Wright, Stephen Wright and their families.

The family would like to thank the Aristocrat Assisted Living Facility and the Alamogordo Hospice Care for the loving attention they gave our mother/Mimi.

A family and friends gathering will be held in Artesia, New Mexico, October 30, 2021, 10:00 AM at Woodbine Cemetery.
 
The Wright family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home.

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