Shirley Kay Corbett

Shirley Kay Corbett passed away early Saturday morning, November 16, 2024, at her home in Lowden, WA, surrounded by friends and family. She was the only child of Ronald A. Wright and Dorothy A. (Foster) Wright of Soquel, CA. She was born June 20, 1935, in Santa Clara, CA, between two major events in world history, the Great Depression and World War II. Her family never wanted for much during those trying times since her dad always had work and her mom and grandma tended a garden, had chickens, and a cow. Grandpa and Grandma Foster lived right next door which was very handy for young Kay. She made a habit of checking what Grandma was making for supper and then decide whether she would stay there or go home. At age 12 she became a majorette in her father’s Eagles Lodge Aerie. Her mom and Grandma made the costumes, and she twirled her way through parades and other events for two years. She married in 1950 and had two children, daughter Janette and son Tom Holmes. The marriage ended in 1966. She later met Dave Corbett, and they married on July 11, 1967, in Lovelock, NV. They had a son, David Wright Corbett, born in 1969 in Reno, Nevada. Dave and Shirley rode the real estate roller coaster until Dave’s death in 1995. They bought and sold residential, commercial and bare ground but specialized in ranches. Their life was buying down-at-the heels ranches and bringing them back to life, then sell and do it all again. They finally moved to Walla Walla for good in 1980.

Shirley loved all things beautiful and enjoyed surrounding herself with beauty. She frequented estate sales and auctions looking for that special treasure. And she was beautiful herself, always looking her best wherever she went. More than that, she was a beautiful person inside and out. But her and Dave’s greatest passion was beautiful horses. They were members of the American Quarter Horse Association and breeders in Walla Walla, WA. Cold Springs Land and Livestock was home to some of the best quarter horses in the Pacific Northwest and could compete anywhere in the world.

Following Dave’s death, the excitement of flipping ranches, horseshows, breeding mares and naming the new foals came to a halt and a new door opened. Shirley went to work with her son at Lloyds Insurance and Real Estate. There she designed ads and helped with property management and sales until her retirement.

She loved her family through all the trials of life and will be missed by all who knew her. Goodbye Mom, we love you and we’ll be together again someday.

She is preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by Jan and Gerald Gorman, Tom Holmes, David and Shawna (Ruley) Corbett, Grandchildren: Ronda (Gorman) and Travis Wilder, Sarah (Holmes) Nelson, Brian Holmes, Lash and Jett Corbett, nine great-grandchildren, and extended family members, Donna Brewer and Karen Gleason.

And a special thank you to Ronda, Karen, and Hospice for helping her in those final hours. There really are angels among us.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.