Sheila Lee Wright Larsen, age 78, of Crossville, TN, graduated to her Heavenly reward on March 21, 2023, surrounded by her family at Cumberland Medical Center.

She was born on March 17, 1945, in Lafayette, Indiana, the daughter of the late Charles Lee Wright and Jeannette Minnie (Melin) Wright.  She was the oldest child of 6.  The family moved from Indiana to Minnesota, to North Dakota, and then the family finally landed in Bueno Park California where she graduated from Western High school in 1963. She was a member of the Choir that sang at Disneyland with the living Christmas tree.  She had the most phenomenal voice and spent much of her life in one choir or another wherever she was at.

She married Leslie William Larsen and headed north and east to Riverton, Wyoming.  Born in that marriage were her 5 children.  Danny, Jimmy, Kyle, Kenli, and then Karlee.  She shared her love of music with her family and often made them “Sing for their Supper”.  She had so much pride in the wonderful harmonies that developed over the years! Sheila developed a children’s Choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church to give an audience to her very own little choir.  Sheila would continue to sing all the different styles of music and genres throughout the remainder of her life.

Mom was a wonderful artist and during her time in Wyoming she began her education to become a “Fine Artist”  She started classes at CWC and made a grand decision to study on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.  She enjoyed her time there and made some amazing friends and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts.  Mom then returned to the mainland and finished with a Master of Fine Art in Missoula Montana.  She would use this incredible talent in a variety of ceramics, plasters, oil, and acrylic paints as well as pastels and pencils.  She saw the world through ever-present rose-colored glasses and always showed that in whatever medium she chose.

When Mom finished her degree she became the vagabond/gypsy traveler that everyone got to know and love.  She would travel all over the lower 48 states as long as she had her easel packed up and her paints.  She spent more than 20 years visiting family and friends and would stay until the roads were clear enough to head to her next adventure.  When her mother Jeannette became ill she, with the support of her siblings, settled in to make sure she got the best care that she could provide and stayed with her until she passed away.  Then off she went again!  Mom finally settled in Fairfield Glad Tennessee in late 2015 where she finally set up a house again near a beautiful lake in the rolling hills.

Mom was the greatest Prayer Warrior! Her knowledge of Jesus was the bedrock that her entire life built around.  The reason all of us children are still alive is from the sheer force of her Prayer Wall and momma spent her whole heart praying for anyone with any need no matter how great or small! Momma would share the Gospel with anyone and loved to sing His praises. Sheila created vast amounts of Jesus and me portraits to pray for and send to the families of those who needed comfort.  I would be negligent to her memory to not tell you all about Her personal Savior!  Seek the Lord to know him!  God is Great…All the time! She is Finally in his arms and singing her own Halleluiah!

She is survived by her children, Danny Larsen (Paulette), Jimmy Larsen (Melanie), Kyle Larsen, Kenli Ryan, and Karlee Zach-May (AJ); 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and 2 on the way; and siblings, Juanita K. Ellison “JoJo”, John Charles Wright (Gail), James Winfield Wright, Victor Elliott Wright (Stacey), and Carla A. Demaray (Keith).

In addition to her parents, Sheila is preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Anabelle Wright; and brother-in-law, Dave Ellison.

There will be a Destination Celebration for Sheila later this summer!

Arrangements and Care are provided by Bilbrey Funeral Home and Cremation Service.