Charles Bright

Dr. Charles Dean Bright, 80, died January 8, 2012, at his home in Evanston, Wyoming, with his family by his side.

Born January 19, 1931, in Boise, Idaho, to Fredrick Samuel Coffin and Alice Lucretia Bright, Charles’ ultimate quest for learning and helping others seemed unlikely. Raised by his mother in the Pocatello area, Charles dropped out of school, ran away from home, and enlisted in the army at the age of sixteen.

After four-years of service in the Korean War, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1952-1954 in the West Central States. Here, he met Patricia Loraine Shumway, whom he married on July 7, 1954, in the Logan Temple. Charles worked various jobs to support his growing family, while spending his spare time on his education.

From high-school drop out, Charles went on to hold a B.S. in Sociology and a minor in Psychology, an M.S. in Special Education of the Emotionally Disturbed and Socially Maladjusted with a minor in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.

For 22 years, he worked at the Wyoming State Hospital in charge of Education and the Library. After retiring, he stayed on at the hospital for another ten years as an Educational Diagnostician. He later worked as a consulting teacher for the Uinta County School District for eight years, and from 1994 to 2011, he taught various courses at the Western Wyoming Community Collage.

From 1992-1993, Charles and his wife served a mission in Romania. Together, they also served a mission at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2010-2011. During his life, he served several stake missions, served in the Wyoming State Hospital Branch Presidency for 13 years, and served in the Needles Branch Presidency at the Rocky Mountain Care Center.

Charles is survived by his brother Keith (Karen) Barnes of Round Rock, TX, and his sister RaLinda Johnson (Roswell, NM). His death was preceded by his sisters Colleen Hess and Faye Hall.

Charles lived in Evanston for 47 years and raised eight children: Forrest Bright of Cheyenne, WY, Kathrine Putnam of Evanston, Kalei (Vicki) Bright of Richmond, TX, Joseph Bright of Studio City, CA, Lanice (Michael) Hutchinson of Spring Creek, NV, Tristram Bright of Evanston, and Mary Bright (Jeff Wagstaff) of Evanston. Charles was preceded in death by his son Adrian Bright. He left behind 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11am at the Evanston South LDS Stake Center.  A viewing will be held on Friday from 5-8pm at Crandall Funeral Home, and from 10-11am on Saturday just prior to the services at the church.