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Neely Prentice Wright
May 13, 1923 - November 27, 1999
Neely Prentice Wright, 76, of Bruceton, was born May 13, 1923 in Los Angeles, California, the son
of Prentice and Mildred Simmons Wright, and died on Saturday Morning, November 27, after an
extended illness.
He was a beloved and well-known figure of Carroll County; having been mayor of Bruceton for two
terms, charter member of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, past member of the Carroll County
Tax Equalization Board, 911 Emergency Board, Carroll County Library Board, Carroll County Indigent
Care Board, Boy Scout Troop Master Troop 79, past president of the Bruceton-Hollow Rock District
Parent-Teacher Association, former Commander of the Legion Post 180, member of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, helped organize and was the first Little League president in Bruceton, president of
Twin Cities Organization, member of the Jaycees, received the Silver Medallion Award in 1985 for
Carroll County, and received the award for Carroll Countian of the Year in 1995. He was also a past
member of the Democratic National Convention in 1995. Mr. Wright was a member of the Jackson
Purchase Historical Society, based in Murray, Kentucky, the West Tennessee Historical Society and
the Tennessee Historical Society. He was an amateur historian of the Civil War and read avidly
about regional history during this period. Mr. Wright was a longtime member of the United Methodist
Church, serving as a Sunday School Superintendent, treasurer, trustee, as well as serving on many
boards. Mr. Wright served in the United States Navy on active duty in World War II and the Korean
War, and served as an active naval air reservist from 1953 until 1983, where he held many positions
of leadership in the units he served. He retired as an aviation Ordinance Chief Petty Officer on
May 13, 1983 from Patrol Squadron 67, Naval Air Station, Memphis. Mr. Wright was a retired United
States Postal Service employee and an Allstate Insurance agent for thirty years.
He is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-seven years, Christine Mathis Wright, daughters
Katie Wright Kaler (Larry) of Memphis, Melanie Wright Beavis (Ross) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
Bethany Wright Kroemer (Bill) of Portland, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was
predeceased by his son, Christopher Robert Wright and his sister, Rosalee Ida Wright. Mr. Wright's
life reflected two of the greatest commandments: to love God above all else and to love your
neighbor as you would yourself. "Be of good cheer, God is in the plan."
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