Standing Tall in Life and Legacy — Renée Wright Mackay
Renée Wright Mackay: 1928-2019 Standing Tall in Life, Faith, and Community
Renée Wright Mackay was born on May 16, 1928, to Adeline Coats and William Vernon Wright, the oldest of five children. She graduated from Cyprus High School in the Class of 1946 and later married her high school sweetheart, Lowell S. Mackay, in the Salt Lake Temple on December 18, 1946. Together they raised three children—Claudia Smith (Jim), Craig Mackay, and Jeffrey Mackay (Lynette)—and built a legacy of love that continued through nine grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren who were the joy of her life. Renée often said with a smile, “I should have had them first.”
As a young mother, Renée was deeply involved in her children’s education, serving in the P.T.A. and as a devoted room mother. She loved creating beautiful things with her hands, becoming an accomplished seamstress and homemaker. Her commitment to faith and service was evident throughout her life—she held numerous callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Relief Society President (twice), Primary President, Stake Primary Board Member, Sunday School Teacher, Primary Teacher, and Young Women Advisor.
After her children were grown, Renée began working outside the home, first with ZCMI, where her strong work ethic and leadership stood out. She was later encouraged to get involved in the early efforts to incorporate West Valley City. Despite her initial hesitation, she ran for city commissioner—earning the most votes out of eleven candidates, much to her surprise. For the next decade, Renée dedicated herself to helping establish the new city, working to strengthen essential services such as fire, police, and parks. Her straightforward honesty, practical wisdom, and determination made her a respected and sometimes fiery voice in local government.
Her political experience wasn’t always easy. Renée spoke candidly about the challenges and disappointments of public service, where she often saw both the best and worst in people. Yet she remained proud of the foundation she helped lay for West Valley City and the values she represented: integrity, fairness, and courage.
Following her years in city service, Renée worked for Huish Chemical (later Huish Detergent) as a traffic manager before retiring in 1990. She and Lowell spent the next 17 years traveling the country in their motorhome, visiting nearly every corner of the United States. Winters were spent happily snow-birding in Yuma, Arizona, and the couple enjoyed many cruises together. In later years, as health challenges came, they returned home to Utah, eventually settling in West Point in the home of their daughter and son-in-law, where they received loving care.
Renée’s life was filled with faith, family, and the courage to “stand tall.” She often recalled the words of a beloved high school teacher who once told her, “You can be tall and beautiful with square shoulders, or tall and slumped over with a humped back—it’s your choice.” That advice became a lifelong metaphor for Renée: to stand tall in every sense—physically, morally, and spiritually.
Her legacy endures in the generations she inspired and in the community she helped to build, one honest word and one brave step at a time.
Wright and Rights: Renée Wright Mackay’s Dedication to Her City
Renée Wright Mackay’s election to the West Valley City Commission was a testament to her integrity and dedication to her community. As the Chamber’s first vice president noted, “In a day when women’s rights are literally being demanded by groups through organized campaigns, she ran for office and was elected, not as a representative of the feminine point of view, but because she was an individual citizen vitally concerned with the future of the area in which she lived all her life.” Renée brought to the role a clear vision, a commitment to honesty, and a willingness to stand up for what she believed was best for her neighbors—qualities that helped lay the foundation for the newly incorporated city.
Renée Wright Mackay descended from notable early settlers—her grandparents, Dick Coats and Mary Hunter, and her great-grandparents, Jacob Hunter and Mary Shafer—whose lives and contributions helped shape the development of this region