Don Gerald Wright

Don was an avid farmer/gardener. He shared his love of gardening with his children and family, and he often gave his harvest to his church family, neighbors, friends, and community elders. His most prized harvest to share with others was his awesome watermelon.

Don also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he used these hobbies to bond with each generation of his family. Every child, grandchild, and great grandchild has a story about hunting or fishing with Papa Don!

He loved to laugh, and his favorite hobby was picking and aggravating. Everyone he knew was fair game. Don never met a stranger, his smile, hand shake and warm manner made everyone feel valued.

As his daughter, Sue, shared – “He was the greatest dad in the world! He taught us to love others...as he loved us!! He was our rock!! There was nothing like the LOVE that came through the touch of our DADDY’s HANDS....they met every need we had...no matter what! Just as our Heavenly Father....HIS HANDS will carry us through this life just like our earthly father has done for us...our daddy did his part! He ran his race on his earth and now has received the final reward in Heaven!! Nothing else could ever bring us more comfort...Than to know that!!”

Mr. Wright was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ricky Don Wright; granddaughter, Kathryn Elizabeth (Katy) Westmoreland; brothers, Glenn Thomas Wright, Charles Wright, and Troy Dickie Wright; sister-in-law, Jean Wright; and babies, Little Man and Bubba.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marilyn Wright; sisters, Gayle Stokes and husband Bubba and Glenda Eidson and husband John Homer; daughters, Teresa Westmoreland, Rhonda Burkhalter and husband Mike, Brenda Sue Pate and husband Danny, and Kay Hastings and husband Ronnie; sons, Larry Carpenter, Jim Carpenter and wife Cindy, and Tim Carpenter and wife Jeanette; grandchildren, Jamie Jones, Kallie Westmoreland, Kori Westmoreland, Kristin Dade, Shelby Sitton, Matt Pate, Ricky Pate, Ashley Mast, Amie Adkison, Chris Pate, Stephanie Pate Maggard, Jennifer Williams, Zachary Hastings, William Carpenter, Caitlin Carpenter, and Cheyenne Carpenter; great grandchildren, Ja’nee Sledge, Jaylon Sledge, Tyler Pate, Braden Pate, River Pate, Kinleigh Pate, Alyssa Pate, Dylan Pate, Rylie Pate, Dakotah Mast, Dally Mast, Timber Mast, Tristan Adkison, Sam Adkison, Serenity “Bitty” Adkison, Allison Pate, Lorelei Williams, and Matilda Williams; and his baby, Little Bit.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel officiated by Shak Arrington and Wesley Wiggins. Interment will follow at Bethel Cemetery in Appleby.

Pallbearers will be Timmy Wright, Brian Wright, Matt Pate, Ricky Pate, William Carpenter, and Kyle Adkison.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at Cason Monk-Metcalf.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210.

Please visit www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com to leave your online condolences and memories.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.