Mary Bright Obituary

Mary Beth Bright

July 5, 1951 - October 1, 2025

Mary Beth Sperry Bright, 74, of Schroon Lake, N.Y., died on October 1, 2025 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Mary was born in Queensbury, N.Y. in 1951 to Paul and Lydia (Williams) Sperry and was the youngest of five siblings. She attended Queensbury High School before meeting the love of her life, Eric Horan Bright of Glens Falls, N.Y. They were married in Lake George, N.Y., at the age of 20 and were married for over 50 years. While Eric was a special education teacher, Mary was a dental hygienist before going back to school in her 30s for counseling. In her career and in her personal life, Mary was a lifelong helper and took pride in counseling people of all ages.

Eric and Mary had two daughters, Lydia Jane and Kate Elizabeth, and settled in North Bangor, N.Y., and later moved to Canton, N.Y. While they had deep and lasting connections to these places, their hearts lay at Eric's ancestral camp on Schroon Lake, N.Y. Early on, Eric approached his grandfather, Clarence Barnum Wilkes, about purchasing a parcel of the land from him. He bought it for $1. As Eric and Mary started their life together, they spent every summer at Schroon Lake, building a log cabin. Their children grew up there and have many happy childhood memories of swimming, hiking, and reading by the lake. Eventually, upon retirement, they moved to Schroon Lake permanently.

Mary was a life-long sewer, a very good cook, and a baker. In later years, she got into quilting and set about the task of making a quilt for every family member. Her favorite place was on the front porch at the cottage on Schroon Lake, where she sat in all seasons. Her favorite people were her family - daughters and grandchildren - and her four siblings. She had a special connection with her sister Susan in later years.

She is survived by her two daughters; her grandson, Finn Eric; and granddaughter, Wren Evelyn. She is also survived by her brothers, David and John (Mary) Sperry and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and second cousins.

Mary was predeceased by her loving husband, Eric; parents; brother-in-law, Bill Herlihy; sister-in-law, Trudy Sperry; brother, Timothy Sperry; and sister, Susan Herlihy.

Join us on March 14, 2026, 2 to 5 p.m., for a celebration of life gathering at Common Roots Brewing Company at their Bierhall location in South Glens Falls, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the The Parkinson's Foundation, the Fox Foundation, or the McClure Respite House.

We extend our deepest thanks to the nurses, doctors and staff at Elderwood at Burlington and the McClure Respite House in Colchester, Vt., where Mary spent her final days. She was comfortable and at peace in the end, with her daughters at her side.