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Loretta (Lettie) Kathleen Albright Muckley

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -Mary Oliver

Heaven welcomed Loretta (Lettie) Kathleen Albright Muckley on July 22, 2014. She passed away at St. Paul University Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

She was born in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 6, 1961, the daughter of the late Joseph P. Albright Sr. and Patricia Ann Deem Albright. She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1979, and earned her Bachelor in Education (cum laude) from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, majoring in Reading/Language Arts, from Ohio University.

Lettie achieved the position of Professor at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and dedicated her career to adolescent and children’s literature and instructing pre- and in-service teachers in the Department of Reading.

Her academic and scholarly career spanned over 30 years. Dr. Albright began her professional life by teaching at several school districts in Ohio and West Virginia. She joined the faculty at TWU in 2000.

During her years at TWU, Dr. Albright became especially recognized for her scholarship, teaching and service. Her many achievements included numerous book chapters and articles. Her publication of the book “Ten Years of the Master Class” in Teaching Children’s Literature, which she co-edited with colleague April Bedford, has been widely used in college classrooms across the nation. Her expertise was sought after by national groups, including National Council of Teachers of English, International Reading Association, Reading Is Fundamental and several media and professional organizations. She was most honored to have served as president of the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English. She was also a board member of the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading special interest group, and served as a member of that organization’s Notable Books for a Global Society Committee.

Active in the life of TWU, Lettie served on the Blue Ribbon Prioritization Committee and Graduate Council. She also chaired the Honors Day Celebration and SACS Graduate & Post-Bacc Professional Programs Committee. In the Department of Reading, Lettie served on both the masters and the doctoral committees, chaired the graduate scholarships awards and frequently chaired the Rose F. Spicola Forum.

In the Denton community, Lettie was active in arts and community support organizations.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Ann Deem Albright; her father, Joseph Paul Albright Sr.; and a brother, John Patrick Albright.

She is survived by her husband, the love of her life, Jon David Muckley; sister, Theresa (Terri) Albright Cavi; and brother, Joseph (Jay) Albright Jr. She is also survived by her aunts, Mary Ellen Deem Manzo (Mick) and Helen Gerwig Albright; stepmother, Nancie Gensert Albright; three stepchildren, Valerie Muckley Hooper (Michael), Daniel J. Muckley and Scott A. Muckley (Casey); three stepsisters, Susan Divvens Bowman (Tim), Deborah Divvens Rake (Kevin) and Sandra Divvens Fox (Jim); and 15 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

Lettie will especially be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, professionalism and ability to take on a challenge with grace and dignity. She was a wonderful, loving wife, sister, step-mother, aunt, and special friend to many.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Leavitt Funeral Home in Parkersburg, with a Rosary service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Parkersburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the John Patrick Albright Foundation, 33 Woodland Park Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26101. This foundation will continue to support research and treatment for Dilated Familial Cardiomyopathy, the disease which led to the complications that caused not only Lettie’s passing, but also that of her mother, Patty, and brother, John.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.leavittfuneralhome.com

Loretta (Lettie) Kathleen Albright Muckley

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

Heaven welcomed Loretta (Lettie) Kathleen Albright Muckley on July 22, 2014. She passed away at St. Paul University Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

She was born in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 6, 1961, the daughter of the late Joseph P. Albright, Sr. and Patricia Ann Deem Albright. She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1979, and earned her Bachelor in Education (cum laude) from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, majoring in Reading/Language Arts, from Ohio University.

Lettie achieved the position of Professor at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and dedicated her career to adolescent and children’s literature and instructing pre- and in-service teachers in the Department of Reading.

Her academic and scholarly career spanned over 30 years. Dr. Albright began her professional life by teaching at several school districts in Ohio and West Virginia. She joined the faculty at TWU in 2000.

During her years at TWU, Dr. Albright became especially recognized for her scholarship, teaching and service. Her many achievements included numerous book chapters and articles. Her publication of the book Ten Years of the Master Class in Teaching Children’s Literature, which she co-edited with colleague April Bedford, has been widely used in college classrooms across the nation. Her expertise was sought after by national groups, including National Council of Teachers of English, International Reading Association, Reading Is Fundamental and several media and professional organizations. She was most honored to have served as president of the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English. She was also a board member of the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading special interest group, and served as a member of that organization’s Notable Books for a Global Society Committee.

Active in the life of TWU, Lettie served on the Blue Ribbon Prioritization Committee and Graduate Council. She also chaired the Honors Day Celebration and SACS Graduate & Post-Bacc Professional Programs Committee. In the Department of Reading, Lettie served on both the masters and the doctoral committees, chaired the graduate scholarships awards and frequently chaired the Rose F. Spicola Forum.

In the Denton community, Lettie was active in arts and community support organizations.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Ann Deem Albright; her father, Joseph Paul Albright, Sr.; and a brother, John Patrick Albright. She is survived by her husband, the love of her life, Jon David Muckley; sister, Theresa (Terri) Albright Cavi; and brother, Joseph (Jay) Albright, Jr. She is also survived by her aunts, Mary Ellen Deem Manzo (Mick) and Helen Gerwig Albright; step-mother, Nancie Gensert Albright; three step-children, Valerie Muckley Hooper (Michael), Daniel J. Muckley and Scott A. Muckley (Casey); three step-sisters, Susan Divvens Bowman (Tim), Deborah Divvens Rake (Kevin) and Sandra Divvens Fox (Jim); and 15 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

Lettie will especially be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, professionalism and ability to take on a challenge with grace and dignity. She was a wonderful, loving wife, sister, step-mother, aunt and special friend to many.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at the Leavitt Funeral Home in Parkersburg, with a Rosary service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Parkersburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the John Patrick Albright Foundation, 33 Woodland Park Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26101. This foundation will continue to support research and treatment for Dilated Familial Cardiomyopathy, the disease which led to the complications that caused not only Lettie’s passing, but also that of her mother, Patty, and brother, John.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.leavittfuneralhome.com