Breckenridge Texan

Ouida Wright Garner was born in Gorman, Texas, on April 5, 1947, and passed away in Arlington, Texas, at the age of 76, on December 25, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Her parents were John Amos Wright and Ouida R’Minta Davis Wright. Ouida lived in Breckenridge until age five when her family moved to Abilene, Texas. Ouida attended Cooper High School and then received her degree in Education from Abilene Christian College in 1969. That same year, she began her teaching career at Bailey Junior High in Arlington, Texas, a position that would last for forty years. In 1984, Ouida completed her Master of Education degree at North Texas State University.

During the first half of her career, she taught Physical Education and coached girls’ basketball. Her teams were quite successful and won City Championships for several years. After twenty years of coaching, she switched to Speech and produced plays, which was something new for Bailey at the time.

Teaching was not just a job for Ouida. She went above and beyond what was required. She was a dedicated teacher and put her heart and soul into what she did, and that is what made her so special. During her career she taught more than 6,500 students, and many came back later to let her know how much she had impacted their lives. Toward the end of her career, she was teaching the children of many of her former students.

During her retirement years, she faced several medical challenges but always approached them bravely and with optimism. She loved to stay in contact with her friends and family and sent many cards of sympathy, encouragement, congratulations, birthday wishes, and others. She also enjoyed cooking and made many fine meals. Ouida was a longtime, faithful member of the Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Picketville DRT and Lee’s Legion DAR.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ouida Wright, and stepmother, Virginia Wright. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Garner; brother, John Wright and wife Peggy of Clyde, Texas; nieces, Amy Rieder and husband Lance of Abilene, and Ashley Thompson and husband Scott of Oplin, Texas; and nephew, Austin Wright and wife Stephenie of Nocona, Texas. She is also survived by her great-nieces and great-nephews, Ryan and Emma Rieder, Jed and Reid Thompson, and Hadley Wright.

Both the visitation and funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at the Elliott Street Church of Christ in Breckenridge, Texas. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the funeral service at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to either the Ouida Wright Garner Scholarship Fund at Bailey Junior High or Mission Printing, both in Arlington. Messages of condolence can be left online at meltonkitchens.com.