On Monday, November 30, 2020, Nancy Mae Wright, mother and friend, departed this earth for home at the age of 72. Nan was born on July 25th, 1948 in Los Angeles, California to Donna (Winslow) and Tom Grindle. During her childhood, Nan became a friend to stray dogs, an activist, and an explorer of truth. In her late teens, she joined the Hare Krishna Movement and opened one of the first and most famous of their temples in Los Angeles. She traveled and lived in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East where she practiced field nursing in rural areas, led programs to provide emergency meals to refugees, and conducted research in ancient Vedic culture and history.

After returning to the United States in the late 1980s, she pivoted to focus on her personal and professional evolution, following her deep connection with the earth and spirit. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Resource Ecology in 1995 and nearly completed a Master of Science in Water Resources Science and Management, both from University of Idaho. Nan spent almost twenty years in terrestrial, river, shoreline, and marine Geographic Information Systems analysis and map services for science and education, with particular focus in habitat identification and classification, working in Idaho, California, and Washington. She co-authored several published scientific and technical articles in her field and was a regular speaker.

Nan’s children are Chandra Wright, Vilas Wright, and Michael (Govi) Wright. Her grandchildren are Rajani (Elek) Maiatico, married to Matthew Maiatico, Oliver Marks, Anastasia Wright, Nathaniel Silverman, and Davis Silverman. Her sister is Susan Josenhans, married to Skip Josenhans. She was formerly married to Michael R. Wright, Sr.

Nan was an evolutionary thinker, a spiritual philosopher, a nature interpreter, and a captivating story-teller. She daringly studied and practiced travel to other realms, in the way of Shaman. When she retired, she roamed around the northwest and southwest of the U.S. in a 30-foot RV, pulling her leathercraft studio in a sturdy trailer that also held her desert utility vehicle—Clive. She would ride joyfully for hours in Clive exploring the desert for rocks, plants, and animals, and making connections with the land. Nan conversed easily with the strangers she met, sometimes making friends she’d travel with, sometimes learning or sharing travel wisdom. She wrote poetry, journaled her experiences, worked on her crafts, or simply sat with a cup of coffee enjoying abundant sunsets and sunrises in the wild.

Nan was diagnosed with a brain cancer called Glioblastoma in June 2020. After undergoing an emergency tumor removal, she moved to California to be near the ocean and receive the care of close family. She chose not to undergo radiation and chemotherapy. Nan continued her practice of Qi Gong and meditation. She leveraged her wisdom and deftness of spirit to travel gracefully between realms to gather guides and navigate the transition from this earth. Nan constantly expressed her gratitude and love, embracing her daily physical demise with humor, music, and fortitude.

Nan’s ashes will become part of an aspen grove memorial in Moscow, Idaho. Donations for trees and companion plants can be made to PCEI. Other organizations that Nan liked and contributed to over the years include the World Wildlife Fund, Welfare for Animals Guild, Yellowstone Forever, Pacific Wild, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.