Steven Milkey Wright

Steven Milkey Wright of Woodland died of natural causes on June 10, 2022, shortly after an initial treatment for throat cancer. He was 59.

He was born on Feb. 14, 1963, the first child to Patricia Elaine Kloiber Milkey and Walter Fred Milkey of New Britain, Conn. He was raised in that area, graduating in 1981 from Berlin High School in Berlin, Conn.

In 1985, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. In 1992, he completed a master’s of arts in economics degree at The George Washington University. He was married to Elizabeth Walton from 1993 to 2015.

Steve remained in the Washington, D.C., area for 29 years before moving – sight unseen – to Davis, Calif., to accompany his then-girlfriend Evie Wright. He and Evie lived in the same D.C. apartment building for a decade. They married on March 25, 2018, in Sausalito, and made their home in the Spring Lake development of Woodland.

Steve worked in real estate and property management most of his adult life. “He was a people person. He really liked working with and meeting people, and helping them find solutions to problems,” Evie said.

His sense of humor made him well-liked and fun to be around. Those around him knew to expect his stupid jokes. He and Evie worked references from the “This Is Spinal Tap” movie into their wedding vows: “How much more love could there be? The answer is none. None more love.”

For Steve’s family and friends, that love was mutual. He valued spending time with his nieces and nephews, two of whom called him “Uncle Bruce,” just to be silly.

An avid sailor, Steve owned a sailboat in Chesapeake Bay, Md., for several years. Recently, he was a member of the Club Nautique sailing club in Sausalito, and was in the process of teaching his wife the craft. He also enjoyed golf – another sport he was teaching her.

Steve went to Europe several times when he was young, cementing a lifelong love for travel. He and Evie enjoyed recent trips to Asia and Hawaii. They also loved to camp, with Calaveras County and Big Sur among the latest excursions. Music was another devotion, especially David Bowie tunes. He had close friends in local bands, and relished attending their live performances.

He and Evie were inseparable, with Steve often accompanying his wife to her Soroptimist service club events. He was a proud “Soroptimister.”

Steve hated being a passenger and Evie didn’t love driving, so he often served as chauffeur. Though he typically drove well above the speed limit, he never got a traffic ticket. He cursed slow drivers who used the fast lane. (To honor Steve’s memory, please save the left lane for passing.)

Steve was preceded in death by his beloved parents. He is survived by his wife Evie Wright of Woodland; brother Kevin Milkey and his wife Jeanne of St. Pete Beach., Fla., and their son Jackson; sister Ann Hudock and her husband Chris of Denver, and their sons Owen and Ethan; sister Jane Jensen, and her husband Chris of Denver, and their sons Luke and Ryan; and stepmother Martha Milkey and her brother John Darrow, both of Denver.

He is also survived by Evie’s parents, John and Kristine Wright of Fallbrook; her brothers Adam Wright of Davis, and Peter Wright and his wife Kimberly of Davis, and their children Anthony and Isabella; her sister Susan Vaziri and brother-in law Freddie of Davis, and their children Kindred and Peregrine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Steve Wright’s name to one of two causes dear to his heart:

Blue Water Foundation, which teaches sailing to under-served youths. Visit https://www.bluewaterfoundation.org/donate.

Soroptimist International of Davis, which educates and empowers local women and girls, at https://www.sidavis.org/donate/.

Planning is underway for a memorial service in Yolo County, followed by private family services in California and on the East Coast. Those plans are to be announced.