Johnny Wright

Memorial services for Johnny Wright, 95, Tyler, are scheduled for 2:00, Tuesday, January 30, at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. David O. Dykes officiating. A private family graveside service will precede the memorial service with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Wright passed away Saturday, January 27, in Tyler. Johnny Wright was born May 30, 1911 in Tyler to the late John M. and Ethel Hairston Wright. He graduated from Tyler High School and Tyler Commercial College desiring to live in the town and with the people he thought of as home. Johnny's first job before the age of ten was making crates at his father's box factory in Tyler. During his youth, he also sold soda pop at the baseball park in Tyler, worked as a soda jerk at a neighborhood drug store, and as a young adult sold ladies shoes. He was one of the original partners of Story-Wright, Inc. from 1935 to 1952. He served in the Navy during World War II. In 1953, Johnny Wright entered the life insurance business in Tyler representing Southland Life Insurance Company. His advertisement ?Everybody Knows Johnny Wright Knows Life Insurance? soon became well known in Tyler. He loved the Life Insurance business, and was a Company Leader of Southland Life Insurance Company sixteen out of the first thirty-two years he was with the company. Until recently he still enjoyed helping clients with insurance matters. He has served as president of the following organizations: Tyler Association of Life Underwriters, East Texas Estate Planning Council, Tyler Sales and Marketing Club, Tyler Junior Chamber of Commerce, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, a 71 year member of the Tyler Rotary Club, Tyler United Way, Texas Leaders Roundtable and Tyler Mental Health Association. He also is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table and was awarded the T. B. Butler Outstanding Citizens Award in 1950. He served many years with the Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in helping bring new industries to Tyler. Always willing to help with any project that he thought would make Tyler a better city, he served as chairman of fund raising events, most importantly, events benefiting Harvey Hall, the University of Texas at Tyler, and the Carlton Hotel. He founded the Contact Club while he was President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1950, and the Johnny Wright Life Membership Award was named in his honor. He was also a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Evelyn Wright, second wife, Margaret Ann Wright, brother, Robert Wright, and sisters, Clemmie Adams and Estelle Stripling. He is survived by his loving family including his sons, John Ronald Wright and wife Wanda of Tyler, Robert Stephen Wright of Tyler; daughter, Rosemary Beaird and husband Harold of Tyler; grandchildren, Merrillee Elliff and husband Bill of Harlingen, Kurt Brown and wife Rhonda of Georgetown, and Lori Brown of Tyler; six great-grandchildren; nephew, John H. Wright and wife Annah of Tyler; nieces, Peggy Dunken and husband Bert of Willis, Dr. Kaye Stripling of Willis; special friend, Sara Lamberth Fink; former daughter-in-law, Carolyn Brennan and husband Jerry of Dallas; and step-son, John Richardson and wife Neela of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Honorary Pallbearers are the Majors Pharmacy Coffee Clutch, the Contact Club, Tyler Rotary Club, and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Board. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 Monday evening at Stewart Family Funeral Home located on 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in South Tyler. Memorials in honor of Mr. Wright may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, Texas 75707 or a charity of your choice. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Johnny Wright

May 30, 1911 - January 27, 2007