Ina Pearl Bright

Ina Bright

Ina Pearl Bright, age 94, went to her heavenly home on January 3, 2020 in Renton, Washington.

Ina was born on February 12, 1925 in Grant, Nebraska.  She was the eldest child of Albert Lloyd and Oma (Whiteley) Fister.  She met her husband, Claude Myers Bright in Bridgeport, Nebraska where they married and had their three children.

Ina loved teaching and started her career teaching grades 1 – 8 in a one room schoolhouse in Morrill County Nebraska after a summer of Normal School teacher training.  She furthered her education through correspondence classes and nights classes.  After moving to Sutherlin, Oregon she began substitute teaching and by 1959 was hired as a full-time teacher with her promise that she would continue her education by attending summer school.  In the 1964 – 1965 school year she took a break from teaching and attended the University of Oregon as a senior along with her daughter who was a freshman that year, finally getting a Bachelor of Science degree. She then taught First Grade for 20 years.  She felt very fulfilled in teaching children to read.  She retired in 1985 and moved in 1995 to Renton, Washington to be closer to her daughters.

Ina was a Christian believer and a member of Assembly of God churches in Bridgeport, Nebraska and in Sutherlin, Oregon and in Renton, Washington.  She served the church as a teacher and as a pianist.

Ina’s hobbies and interests included reading, sewing, music, writing letters and family history.  She accumulated over 80 notebooks and books about her ancestor’s and her husbands’ ancestors.

Ina was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Bright; her son-in-law, Robert Wilson;  her grandson, Douglas Wilson; her sister, Inez Myers; her brothers, Donald Fister, Ronald Fister, and Gerald Fister; and nieces and nephews.

Ina is survived by her three children, Sharon (Dennis) Palmer, Kathryn Wilson, and Alan (Chryel) Bright; seven grandchildren, Tara (James) Summers, Dennis (Destiny) Palmer, Kristy Wilson, William (Kelly) Palmer, Shane (Sarah) Bright, and Isaac (Vanessa) Bright; eight great-grandchildren, Ryland Dake, Michael (MacKenna) Summers, Sage Jones, Luke Bright, Adeline Palmer, Rowan Palmer, Matilda Palmer, and Carson Autzen Bright; one brother, Robert Fister; and many nieces and nephews.

Ina will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery above her husband.  A memorial service will be scheduled later.