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Doctor John Clay Wright died on Sunday, May 30, 2021. He was born June 18, 1922 in Trimble, Tennessee, to Doctor Leonard and Sally Davidson Wright. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of seventy-three years, Carolyn Graves Wright; four brothers, Lindley Wright, Dr. Leonard Wright, Thomas Wright, James Wright; one sister, Sarah Wright Clark; and his son-in-law, George Kell, Jr.
He is survived by his five children, Carolyn Wright Kell of Newport, Sally Wright Davis (Mel) of Little Rock, John Clay Wright, Jr., of Schenectady, New York, James Harry Wright (Rose) of Dusan, Louisiana, and David Armisted Wright of Fayetteville. Dr. Wright is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Michael Allen (Julie), Sara Allen Bryant (Daniel), John Allen (Jill), Scott Steed, Sara Steed Koger (Mike), John M. Davis, Jr., Rachel Wright Jones (Matt), Carolyn Wright Durrett (Matt), Rebecca Wright, Bradley Wright (Amy), and Katie Wright Warner (Craig): and seventeen great grandchildren.
After graduating from Trimble High School in 1940, Dr. Wright attended Memphis State University where he met his future wife, Carolyn Graves. Dr. Wright served his country in the United States Navy during World War Two. After the war, he married Carolyn and entered medical school at the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Tennessee. He finished his residency and the couple moved the family to Water Valley, Mississippi to open a general medicine practice.
After 5 years in Mississippi, Dr. Wright accepted a position at the Harris Hospital in Newport, Arkansas, where he practiced for 30 years, alongside his nurse, Mrs. Juanita Luter.
Dr. Wright was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a lay preacher, a Sunday School teacher, and a long time member of the choir. He served on the Newport Special School District Board for many years and was a member of the Rotary Club. He loved the game of golf, duplicate bridge, and the Arkansas Razorbacks!
The family wants to express their love and gratitude to Debbie and Jackie Gelespie for the years of loving and compassionate care they gave to Dr. and Mrs. Wright.
Dr. John Clay Wright was loved by his family and his community, and will be missed by all.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Wednesday, June 2, 2021, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Graveside services are 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Watson Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 217 Laurel Street, Newport, AR 72112.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Michael Allen, John Allen, Scott Steed, John Davis, Brad Wright, and Mel Davis. Honorary pallbearers are John Conner, Sr., Dr. Guilford Dudley, and members of the First United Methodist Church Choir.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home,
www.jacksonsfh.com