06/23/2026
Long Post Ahead ⚠️
Today, I Celebrated the Life of a Dear Friend and Mentor (Reason Why We were Closed Today, Sorry to Those that Stopped)
lula b. Fam—Meet Essie 💕 This Beautiful Soul made a Huge Impact on My Life and Career!
Picture this—24yo Me “Chatty Cathy”Working in a Cubicle (Headset and All), Not Happy and Wondering What I Should do with My Life. Knowing I Wanted to Own a Clothing Store but Not Knowing Where to Begin.
God Sent Me Essie 🙏
One Day before Work, Looking at the Newspaper Job Listings (Do People Do that Anymore??) — I Spotter It! J’z Fashions was Moving to Bismarck and Hiring a Store Manager. I Called My Mom at Work sooo Fast to Tell her about the Job I was Applying for which She Responded with “Do It!”
I Went to this Job Interview with No Hopes of Getting the Job since I had No Experience in Managing and Very Little in Retail besides my Retail Merchandising Degree. What was Supposed to be a 20 min Interview turned into an Hour and a Half and Me being Late Returning from Lunch🤷🏼♀️ (Hint Hint—I Got the Job)
Essie took a Chance on Me and Took Me Under Her Wing. She Welcomed Me into All Her Businesses and Family with Open Arms. She Showed Me the Ropes of the Retail Business from Day to Day Duties to Buying Product at Market. She Listened to All My Crazy Ideas while Adding Her Own. She Taught Me that Work Should be Fun and that a Boss can be Your Friend.
Because of Her, I Fell in Love with the Western Fashion which Eventually Created Our Mobile Boutique.
Essie—Thank You! Thank You for Being a Mentor but More Importantly a Friend. I Hope I am at least Half the Boss You Were. I Hope I Make You Proud.
You will be Missed—Fly High🪽
Carly
PS—Today is a Great Day to have a Dairy Queen Treat in Honor of Essie🍦
https://www.fulkersons.com/Obituary/6863/Essie-Celia-Wright
