Joe Ed Wright

Joe passed on August 8, 2024. You have heard of the saying “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” this fit Joe to a tee.

Joe lived his life in Burnet County.

Joe graduated from Marble Falls High School in 1972. After graduating he attended Tarleton State University and played College Football the fall of 1972. After one season, he decided that was not for him.

One day Joe set out with Larry Brown on motorcycles and traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada. They slept in the rest areas. The only mishaps during their adventure there was a tire that had to be replaced and repair spokes on one rim.

Joe worked for a short period at Texas Granite. Then Joe traveled to Venezuela for a period, working on the country’s water pipeline.

Joe was his own man. He did not like to take instructions from anyone. Therefore, he became self-employed. Joe was a cement mason and worked with Clay Simmons for several years. The first job was in Austin, a 27,500 ft building. During this time Joe lived in Marble Falls, instead of driving back to Marble Falls, Joe elected to spend the night in his pickup. Clay stated that Joe loved to sleep. Clay thought he could even sleep on a tree limb. Joe was not easily woken. Sometimes he could be a grizzly bear once awake. Joe was meticulous when it came to his work and took great pride in it. Who knows how many yards of concrete he prepared and finished during his life. Let’s just say it is set in concrete.

Joe’s hobby was working with his hands. In later years, he would dig up briar roots, clean them and make unique creatures out of the roots.

After Gunner was born in 2016 and big enough to talk, he was talking to Joe one day, Gunner said, “You look like a grandpa.” Joe said, “I guess I do.” Gunner asked, “Would it be ok to call you Grandpa Joe?” Joe said, “Yes it would ,” so that started the relationship between Gunner and Grandpa Joe. They both loved trinkets, which became a discussion between the two.

Later in his life, his cousins called him “Kemosabe” - “Kemo” means “friend” and “Sabe” means “Apache.”

Joe was preceded in death by his daddy, Richard Wright, uncle, Melvin Wright, his grandparents, Lon A. Wright (Katie), John L. Baker (Pansy & step grandmother, Bernice).

He is survived by his momma, Rose Baker Wright, brother, Jackie Bob Wright (Vicki), sister, Patty Sue Vestal (Tom), niece and nephews, Jerimi Henry (Brian), Lonnie Wright (Sonya), Tanner Wright (Cadie), Seth Naumann, and Hanna Naumann. Joe also was survived by his great nephews and niece, Gabe Carrillo, Krew Lon Wright, Gunner Dalton Wright, and Blakely Sage Wright.

We would like to give a special thank you to Toni Wright Heflin for watching over him for the last few years. She had a way with him that he would comply with her wishes when he would not for anyone else.

If you knew Joe, you would know that he did not like crowds. With that in mind, there will be a private family memorial held later.