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."