Joyce Marie Wright

Joyce Marie (Burroughs) Wright, age 89, of Jupiter, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 30 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Joyce lived briefly in Houston, Texas and grew up in Port Washington, New York. A graduate of Paul D. Schreiber High School, she was an award-winning actress and singer in theatre productions. She earned an associate’s degree from Centenary Junior College and completed secretarial school. She was a secretary to IBM’s Chief Executive for six years in New York City. While working in the city, she immersed herself in cultural events and college courses at Columbia University. Joyce had two children with her former husband Robert T. Morrow. She married Walter (“Bud”) Wright and they moved to New Canaan, Connecticut, bringing their children together as a family. She became one of the first volunteers at Americares, the disaster relief and global health not-for-profit organization, working alongside founder Bob McCauley. As the first paid employee, she was Director of Donor Relations. She participated in relief trips to the Sudan and Japan. Joyce and Bud raced sailboats and enjoyed the waters of Long Island Sound. They instilled their love of the water in their kids. Moving to Darien, Connecticut, they enjoyed cruising their beloved boat “Rejoice” from their home on the Five Mile River. They retired to West Tisbury, Massachusetts on the island of Martha’s Vineyard to enjoy the water and agricultural lifestyle, creating lasting memories for their children and grandchildren for 25 years. Joyce put her stellar fundraising skills to use at the Vineyard Preservation Trust and was named an Honorary Trustee. Joyce and Bud made Jupiter, Florida their final home. She is a past member of Manhasset Bay, Noroton, New York and Edgartown Yacht Clubs. Joyce was always thinking of others and lived by The Golden Rule. She loved her many dogs, was an avid needle pointer and a crossword puzzle aficionado. She was a caring mother to her kids and their friends and party hostess to many. Joyce was a doer and always up for adventure- learning to ski in her mid-twenties and then enjoying it with her family even though they named her “Sargeant Slowpoke”, getting bruised crewing for Bud on their Tempest sailboat or enjoying US and international travels with Bud and friends. She did everything enthusiastically and always with a smile and a laugh. Joyce was a spiritual woman and full of gratitude for her life and the lives she was able to touch. Joyce is predeceased by her husband Bud of 47 years. She is survived by her son Christopher Morrow of Carbondale, CO; her daughter Elizabeth Morrow Reid (Lawrence) of Severance, NY; stepsons David Wright (Kathe Fain) of Fort Bragg, CA, Thomas Wright of Monson, MA, Douglas Wright (Donna Noethig) of Jupiter, FL, John Wright (Kristann Townsend) of Ridgefield, CT; her 16 grandchildren: Dylan, Joey, Stephen, Danny, Kyle, Kathryn, Jessica (Wurster), Michael, Kristine, Jack, Nick Wright, Max and Meaghan Morrow, Michael, Christopher and Katherine Reid; and her eight great-grand grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Americares in her honor at Americares.org. The family would like to thank those who cared for Joyce at Mangrove Bay Assisted Living, Jupiter Medical Center, La Posada Skilled Nursing Rehab and Trustbridge Hospice Center.

Joyce Marie Wright

February 19, 1936 - October 30, 2025