Shawna Erin Wright died on July 4, 2021 after a long battle with mental illness. She died alone on the street because our system did not allow her family to force her to care or provide her with barrier-free accommodation that would protect her from the heat while she was acutely psychotic. Shawna has never hurt anyone, but she spent a year in jail because the only way our flawed system could get her the care she so desperately needed was.
Due to the trauma we suffered from caring for the severely mentally ill, she was unwilling to go through another hospital stay and instead chose to spend her final days in an animal shelter, the hotel rooms falling into disrepair and none due to her arrest Apartment rent could be history.
Shawna was born in Salt Lake City on November 7, 1958, the fourth child (of 5) to a loving Holladay family. She attended Skyline High School, where she was remembered by teachers as highly intelligent. Shawna was an excellent gymnast and an exceptional skier.
In 1979 she had a brief marriage; a marriage compromised by racism and discrimination from their extended family and community, and by domestic violence as a result of their spouse’s severe mental illness. The marriage was annulled in 1980. Shawna then graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Systems Engineering. Unfortunately, because of her demons and despite the loving care of her parents, she was unable to work as an engineer. Instead, she lived with them until their death in 2020 and 2021, caring for them, tending their roses, and playing the saxophone.
Shawna preceded her mother Virginia (Jinny) Wright and father Darrel Kent Wright in death. She leaves behind her brothers Randall S. Wright and Alan E. Wright and her sisters Shari Knighton (Calvin Clark) and Tricia E. Wright, three nieces, three nephews and two great-nieces.
Shawna’s memorial service will be held on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S, Salt Lake City. At 1:15 p.m. there will be a tour before the services.
The funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Instead of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to The Road Home’s homeless service.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune July 9 to July 13, 2021.
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